Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Shaun of the Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Go round mums. Get Liz back. Sort life out!"

Reviewed by Justin Dekker December 16, 2024

For its 20th Anniversary, Universal has brought Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's 'Shaun of the Dead' back to life with a new 4K remaster featuring Dolby Vision and a Dolby Atmos audio track. The outstanding cast sees Simon Pegg ('Star Trek (2009)', 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol') as the titular Shaun, accompanied by Nick Frost (Ed, 'Hott Fuzz, Spaced'), Kate Ashfield (Liz, 'Beyond Borders'), Lucy Davis (Dianne, "Wonder Woman', 'The Office (2001- 2003)'), and the incomparable Bill Nighy (Philip, 'The Wild Robot', 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest') as they fight for survival against an ever-growing onslaught of zombies that clearly has its roots in George Romero's landmark 'Dawn of the Dead' and functions as equal parts love letter to and outright lampooning of the zombie genre. The two discs found within include a 4K UHD disc with the newly remastered 2160p presentation and a Blu-ray disc that is identical to that found in the original release from 2009. Both discs contain the feature film and special features, though the 4K UHD disc also contains the newly created "'Shaun of the Dead': 20 Bloody Years!' segment which is exclusive to 4K and Digital. A Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere and an embossed slipcover is also included.

For an appreciation of the film, please follow this link.

Shaun of the Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Going back to the original 35mm negative to create this new 4K scan along with performing some clean-up work, all of which was performed with the director Edgar Wright's input, Shaun of the Dead returns to UHD disc looking better than ever. The Dolby Vision color grade adds a subtle but positive boost to the palette here with colors being universally more pleasantly and warmly saturated. Reds, like the ink that leaks from Shaun's pen, his name badge, and various signs around town pop nicely. Blood also has a richer, deeper, and more realistic hue to it which is important for a film focused, at least partly, on zombie mayhem and its aftermath. Blacks are deep and developing without crushing and only resist our efforts to plumb them when it is clearly the filmmaker's intent to use the darkness to hide a threat or mask a surprising reveal. Fine detail is typically off the charts, with facial particulars such as Shaun's manicured facial hair, Ed's unkempt stubble, and Liz and Diane's typically perfectly applied make-up are available for inspection, and once the carnage starts, every drop of blood spatter, no matter how fine is detectable. Indoor environments such as Liz's apartment and the Winchester's are also open for scrutiny, with every book, knick-knack, bottle, or aged-worn surface being rendered with great precision. Signs, posters, and newspapers are legible, and other environmental elements such as grass, leaves, and gravel are also clearly delineated and distinct. Flesh tones are universally healthy- looking among the living whether they be pasty like Shaun or overly tan like Diane. The undead skin tones and effects make-up likewise look excellent and as realistic as a zombie could hope to look, with gore, damage, and the start of decay handled well in the early goings, and more serious degradation being effectively reflected in the film's final moments. Whites, such as Shaun's shirt, can approach brilliance. The fact that the film looks remarkable in motion should come as a delight to fans, but the transfer is not without a few quibbles, which, while they prevent the 4K transfer from being absolutely perfect and are minor in the overall scheme of things, they still warrant mention. There are at times, such as when Shaun and Liz are at the Winchester near the start of the film, where the film can look overly sharp - bordering on almost unnaturally so, and there are also a few instances where some of the typical facial detail smooths out. But these instances are brief, representing small portions of the film's runtime, and are outliers, not the rule. And, as discussed in the new featurette with Wright, Pegg, and Frost, a missing pool of blood was added to the scene where Shaun had simply pantomimed a slip during filming in the local shop the morning after Liz dumped him, solving an issue that had nagged at some eagle- eyed viewers in the past. It's nothing near the scale of Lucas's continual revisionism/tinkering, but it's worth a mention. My score is a 4.75.

Please note, in included screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p disc.

Shaun of the Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shaun of the Dead's Dolby Atmos track is sounds great. Dialogue is consistently clean and centrally focused. It's always properly prioritized and sits on top of the action, whether it's Shaun or David screaming, or Barbara's often meek and mild line delivery. Every word is intelligible. Directionality is also top-notch adding realism to Ed's maniacal driving and allowing the viewer to track shells whizzing around the Winchester when Shaun and his friends decide to make their stand in their favorite haunt. The bass presence is substantial and appreciated in support of both music and effects, with songs getting a healthy bottom end and gunshots, car crashes, and heavy doors receiving the requisite heft and depth. Surrounds are occasionally engaged to envelop the viewer in some typical environmental sounds as Shaun and/or Ed roam their pre-apocalyptic neighborhood and hang out in the Winchester. But they're far more typically and consistently used in aid of the frequent injections of music from the score. Height speakers are likewise used to support music as well as other effects to assist objects residing in and moving smoothly throughout the field. It's an engaging and entertaining track.

Shaun of the Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The new Shawn of the Dead 4K release features a wealth of supplemental material, including one new feature on the 4K UHD disc. The Zombie Gallery and Storyboard Gallery elements are only found on the Blu-ray disc.

• 'Shaun of the Dead': 20 Bloody Years! (24.33) - NEW! (Exclusive to 4K UHD and Digital) Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost share recollections of the film's creation, filming, premiere, and impact, including conversations with legendary filmmaker George Romero and recording artist Sade.

• Missing Bits
  • Kitchen Pow-wow
  • Body on the Line
  • Body on the Lone/Yvonne
  • Taxi Driver
  • Bathroom Blowout
  • In the Bedroom
  • Meercats United
  • Alternate Ed
  • The Doppelgang
  • Q.W.A.
  • David vs. Shaun
  • More Peanuts
  • Rifle Trifles
  • David's Redemption
  • Bar Extension

• Outtakes

• The Man Who Would Be Shaun

• Funky Pete

• Plot Holes

• Raw Meat
  • Simon Pegg's Video Diary
  • Lucy Davis' Video Diary
  • Joe Cornish's Video Diary
  • Casting Tapes
  • Edgar and Simon's Flip Chart
  • SFX Comparison
  • Make-Up Tests
  • EPK Featurette

• TV Bits
  • T4 with Coldplay
  • Fun Dead
  • Trisha - Your Nine Lives Are Up
  • Trisha - I Married a Monster
  • Remembering Z Day

• Trailers
  • US Trailer
  • UK Teaser Trailer
  • UK Trailer
  • UK TV Spot #1
  • UK TV Spot #2
  • Fright Fest Trailer

• Audio Commentaries
  • Audio Commentary: Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright
  • Audio Commentary: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Dylan Moran, Kate Ashfield and Lucy Davis
  • Audio Commentary: Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilson
  • Audio Commentary: The Zombies

The Zombie Gallery extras consisting of a Photo Gallery,2000 AD Strip, and Poster Designs, and the Storyboard Gallery are not brought forward to the 4K UHD disc but can be found on the included Blu-ray Disc.

Shaun of the Dead 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It seems strange to think that Shaun of the Dead, a film often described as a romantic comedy that just happens to have zombies in it, and one which I frequently use to lure non-horror fans into exploring the genre, has reached its 20th birthday. For most, this unlikely project served to introduce Simon Pegg to American audiences. His, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright's passion and enthusiasm for the project are evident in every frame. The film's all-around quality and it undying popularity and longevity make the case that it's a modern classic not only of the horror genre but film in general. Littered with laughs, honest emotions, and no more gore than is absolutely necessary (and as it turns out quite a bit is absolutely necessary), the film successfully straddles comedy and horror without ever diving too deeply or too long into either, and never approaching the worrisome realm of camp. The newly minted 4K transfer marks a solid improvement over the previous 4K release and stands head and shoulders above the Blu-ray presentation. Likewise, the Dolby Atmos audio track never fails to impress. Boasting an extensive assortment of extras, the 20th Anniversary release of Shaun of the Dead 4K is the definitive release to date and comes very highly recommended.