2004
Director: Andrew Prendergast
Writers: Alan Coulson, Jason Kingsley, Paul Mackman
Stars: Gary Condés, Saskia Gould, Conrad Whitaker
Disappointing low-budget effort in which a group of industrial cleaners on and some interfering environmentalists come a cropper on a decommissioned oil-rig after an experimental enzyme causes the local sealife to mutate. Riddled with terrible performances and poor quality CGI, there are many better Alien rip-offs out there.
Rating: 3/10
Directors: Duncan Cowan, Mark Jackson
Writers: Duncan Cowan, Mark Jackson, Johnnie Oddball
Stars: Mark Jackson, Duncan Cowan, Johnnie Oddball
Surprisingly decent found footage film which is stronger on the comedy than the horror. A group of hapless documentary film-makers visit the wilds of Shropshire to investigate rumours of a mysterious black cat and spend their time bickering, wandering around in the woods and annoying witnesses.
Rating: 5/10
Director: Christopher Smith
Writer: Christopher Smith
Stars: Franka Potente, Sean Harris, Vas Blackwood
A classic, rather underrated slice of early 2000s terror, with Franka Potente as a party-going socialite who falls asleep on a tube platform and discovers that there’s something nasty living in the Underground. A fast paced, mechanically effective film which looks good and features an incredible performance from Sean Harris.
Rating: 9/10
Stronger on shock and disgust than suspense and mystery, it’s curiously uninvolving.
Philip French, The Guardian, 30/01/2005
Creep’s horror is set to ‘default’ mode rather than ‘ultimate’, but delivers the requisite jumps and shivers.
Kim Newman, Empire
2004
Director: Edgar Wright
Writers: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright
Stars: Simon Pegg Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield
Well, what to say, one of the key productions of the early 2,000s, Shaun of the Dead not only ushered in an endless wave of comedy horror films, it also – along with 28 Days Later – was a key instigator of the zombie genre which would prove so popular in Britain over the following years. It’s a great film, laugh-out-loud funny, but also immaculately made, featuring some surprisingly effective graphic and action scenes.
Rating: 9/10
When Sex Lives of the Potato Men came out, I suggested the dilemma facing the British film industry was whether to put the gun barrel to our heads or in our mouths. But with the release of Shaun of the Dead, I’m inclined to say the dilemma is whether to opt for Moët or Veuve Clicquot. Because this cheerful horror comedy, starring and co-written by Simon Pegg of Channel 4’s Spaced, is as smart as paint. It’s pacily directed, nicely acted and boasts a script crammed with real gags.
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 09/04/2004
A surprisingly good TV transfer for the Spaced crew. It may not exactly be Ealing, but it’s funny for long stretches. Even when in danger of self-destructing, it cadges laughs with smart lines, silly observations or blokish inside jokes about zombie movies, video games and pub nibbles.
Kim Newman, Empire, 01/01/2000