Comic Horror Deconstruction: Shaun of the Dead

Comic Horror Deconstruction: Shaun of the Dead

Point 1 (Wakes up and yawns) 

Camera Angle

Close up of turned inward feet- can't see the full body think it's a zombie.

Playing around with the idea of zombies without confronting it.
Irony of sounding/looking like a zombie in a 'zombie film' makes it comical.

Sound

Non-diegetic soundtrack of upbeat cheery music consisting of brass instruments- mimics the kind of music found in a video game has the effect of decreasing tension levels and makes the scene more comical

Sound of Shaun yawning- made to sound like a groaning zombie linking with the close up of the inward feet toying with the idea of zombies - makes it ironic and funny

Editing

Pans upwards so that we gradually- has the effect of straight away thinking it could be a zombie as we only see the inward feet and hear the groaning- we then see his face and this helps to make fun of the zombie theme as we can see that the noise was actually just him yawning. This  much more effective than if we just saw his whole body emerge at once.

Mise en scene

Open form is used and the density is stark- doesn't look as if anything has been symbolically placed and this adds to the realism of the scene. The background has everyday objects such as the rug and pictures in frames and the protagonist is wearing a simple and scruffy outfit which looks to be his pajamas and this gives the impression of everyday life to the audience making the contrast to the zombie references throughout the opening even more funny.  The colours are also not very bright and no contrasting foils are used making it seem as though nothing has been specifically chosen to stand out much like every day life.

Point 2 (Oblivious to the zombies) 

Camera Angle

Medium or full shot on Shaun to show that he is the protagonist but also to show the surroundings
Doesn't ever focus on the obvious signs of zombies such as the blood smears or the zombies lurking in the background in order to emphasise the ignorance of the protagonist- increasing the comedy of the scene.

Sound

Diegetic squelching of body matter on shoes as he walks and the sound of the zombies groaning- use of dramatic irony as the audience know what it is that is making the sound but the protagonist doesn't even notice it and this makes it more funny for the audience.
Non-diegetic futuristic soundtrack mimicking that of what would be used in relation to a spaceship highlights the eeriness of what is going on; the town has been ripped apart and zombies are roaming the place therefore contrasting against the protagonists reaction of being completely oblivious adding comedy to the scene.

Editing

Tracks Shaun - follows him just as though it were a normal day- replicates the scene earlier in the movie where he goes to the scene right down to the fact that he passes the same beggar on the street but this time he is a zombie. Emphasises that Shaun hasn't noticed any difference in the day at all and adds comic effect.

Mise en scene

Throughout the movie a very open form is used and this point is included in this. By using an open form it helps give the impression to the audience of everyday life and this increases the comedic value as we can relate to the lives of the protagonists well. By using well-known brand names such as 'cornetto' it belittles the drama going on relation to the zombies as it gives the air of an everyday situation. This means that the use of the red -connoting danger- is almost ridiculed.