‘Shaun of the dead’ and ‘Hot Fuzz‘ Now Streaming on Peacock
Horror fans have a reason to celebrate: Edgar wright’s cult classic shaun of the Dead and it’s follow-up, Hot Fuzz, are now available to stream on Peacock as of October 1. The films,celebrated for their unique blend of horror,comedy,and heart,have garnered a dedicated following and continue to influence contemporary genre filmmaking.
Released in 2004, Shaun of the Dead revitalized the zombie genre with its distinctive style. Starring Simon Pegg as Shaun, the film follows his attempts to win back his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield), and protect his mother (Penelope Wilton) and stepfather (Bill Nighy) during a zombie outbreak. While seemingly a standard zombie story, Wright’s signature fast-paced editing and comedic timing transform terrifying moments into laugh-out-loud sequences.The film playfully riffs on zombie tropes, notably referencing Dawn of the Dead in its title, and even contains a potential Easter egg alluding to the 2002 film 28 Days Later, though writers Pegg and Wright maintain the films were developed independently.
Beyond the gore and gags, Shaun of the Dead explores themes of maturity and responsibility. The film transcends simple genre classification, functioning as both a horror-comedy and a coming-of-age story about Shaun’s journey from adolescence to adulthood. Its success helped popularize the “rom-zom-com” label, inspiring subsequent films like Warm Bodies.
Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz represent the first two installments of Wright and Pegg’s “Cornetto Trilogy,” a series linked by recurring actors and a shared comedic sensibility. For fans seeking a blend of thrills, laughs, and heartwarming moments, both films are now readily accessible on Peacock.
