So, is it any good?
The answer is probably yes. As I thought might be the case, I found the horror content off-putting - blood, gore and general body-horror is not my scene. If you get a laugh out of "serious" zombie movies, this won't be a problem for you. Knowing what the Spaced team are like, I will also certainly have missed a lot of humorous references to classic zombie movies.
However, on balance, despite my unreasonable anti-zombie prejudice, I did enjoy the film. The plot was engaging, I felt concern and sympathy for the characters, the action was realistic, the comedy though dark (zombie movie, remember!) was actually funny, even when I didn't really think it ought to be. And it really does fit into the romantic comedy mould as well as containing hordes of the undead. I came out of it feeling uplifted - if a bit soiled...
I would guess it will probably not be a big hit in the States. It is too British in its dialogue and downbeat style (though that's part of its charm), and a bit slow to take off, though if you are more familiar with zombie movies you might not find that so much as I did. I rather suspect that additional tension is being built by playing with the expectations that I don't already have from seeing other films.
I spotted most of the major cast members of Spaced and Black Books, with the notable exception of Bill Bailey, who could easily have been a zombie - maybe without makeup.
It was a "once is enough" film for me. The DVD will not be joining my collection. But if you think you might enjoy it, give it a try - you probably will.
Also on the plus side, by attending an early evening showing in mid-week, I got the New Picture House, a 1920s two-story barn of a movie theatre, almost entirely to myself - front-row centre in the circle. Luxury!
