The Big Clue Everyone Missed Early In Shaun Of The Dead
When director Edgar Wright's "Shaun of the Dead" debuted in theaters back in 2004, the world was instantly charmed by his energetic style, razor-sharp dialogue, and the film's set of hapless heroes in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. The zombie horror sub-genre has been reinvented a few times in the last few decades, like adding a sense of pulse-pounding terror with the speedy infected in Danny Boyle's "28 Days Later" and Zack Snyder's "Dawn of the Dead." But "Shaun of the Dead" frames these George Romero-inspired ghouls in a comedic, character-driven storyline. It follows Shaun (Simon Pegg) as he heroically traipses across London in an attempt to save his ex-girlfriend from the apocalypse and possibly repair their relationship. It's filled with Wright's signature brand of wit, with repetitive comedy and in-jokes that make audiences feel like they've known Shaun and Ed (Nick Frost) for years.
Of course there are a few jokes that carry through to Wright's "Hot Fuzz" and "The World's End," like the infamous fence jump, and the references to Cornetto ice cream. But "Shaun of the Dead" also drops a huge clue as to what's about to happen to Shaun and Ed very early on in the film.
A drunken plan reveals all in Shaun of the Dead
Obviously, "Shaun of the Dead" hinges on Shaun's determination to save his ex-girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) after their breakup. But before London is plagued by the undead, Ed takes his best friend out to The Winchester — of course — to drown Shaun's sorrows after he gets dumped. His plan to make things better? "Keep drinking!" Ah yes, the answer to all of life's problems, a day-drinking pub crawl. But Ed's plan points out a number of memorable moments in the film. The bone-idle stoner enthusiastically tells Shaun, "We'll have a Bloody Mary first thing, a bite at the King's Head, a couple at the Little Princess, stagger back here, and bang, back at the bar for shots." All of those things actually happen, though not how you'd expect.
For starters, the dynamic duo tackle a zombie named Mary in their garden first thing, before leaving to get Shaun's mom Barbara (Penelope Wilton) — where his step-dad Philip (Bill Nighy) gets bitten on the neck by a zombie. A bite at the King's Head was literal, eh? But it doesn't stop there, as the couple they "pick up" at the Little Princess are David and Dianne, a couple whose relationship has clearly stagnated. The group eventually "stagger" back to the Winchester by pretending to be zombies – so they can "wait for all this to blow over." Yeah, good one. If only it was that simple eh? Both Ed and Shaun take "shots" from the bar with the Winchester's rifle.
It's just one of many foreshadowing details in the film that makes it all the more enjoyable during a rewatch.