Advertisement
Simon Pegg, known for his comedic takes on genre movies, shared his thoughts on the history of zombie movies during the making of “Shaun of the Dead” in the book “You’ve Got Red On You.” Pegg discussed how he believed the zombie movie sub-genre became stagnant in the ’80s until it was revitalized in 1996 by Capcom’s “Resident Evil” games.
Pegg noted, “They went quiet after Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Everyone had seen zombies body-popping, and it took the wind out of their scary sails. They became something of a joke, and the zombie genre went a bit dormant. It came back to life, if you’ll pardon the pun, with the Resident Evil games. And that’s what inspired us.”
“Resident Evil” is a highly popular video game series and played a significant role in bringing zombies back into the mainstream. Pegg’s acknowledgment of the influence of the games on “Shaun of the Dead” reflects the impact of “Resident Evil” in reinvigorating interest in zombies as a horror genre.
While Pegg’s timeline regarding the dormancy of zombie movies may not be entirely accurate, his appreciation for the influence of “Resident Evil” in reviving the genre is evident. “Shaun of the Dead” itself stands as a testament to the creative and comedic potential within the zombie horror genre.