Close Reading - Shaun Of The Dead

At the start of the film, the music ('old school' horror music) builds up to nothing because the film is about nothing and there is nothing to the main character. Even in the opening scene we start to see what the most important things are to the main character, Shaun; the local bar 'The Winchester' and his best friend. We can tell this because while Shaun's girlfriend is trying to have a conversation with him the background noises in the bar are overpowering her (the game machine, the bartender, the bell, the music and Shaun's best friend).

When the camera zooms in on Shaun's face you can see that he has trouble concerntrating on anything, this is shown by his blank expressions and constant interruptions in the opening scene of the film. For example, Shaun's girlfriend is trying to have a serious conversation with him but Shaun is more concerned with what is going on around him at the bar; what his best friend is doing, what drinks are being ordered and what music is playing. When he finally does concerntrate the film has been edited to cut quickly to capture the audiences attention.

In the background in the opening scene of the film you can hear Shaun's best friend swearing, saying the words that Shaun is thinking while his girlfriend is trying to talk to him.