In 2004 a small film titled Shaun of the Dead came out and quickly became a favorite for horror and comedy fans alike. My wife, daughter, and myself all love this movie and never get tired of watching it over and over again. This movie started what has come to be known as the Cornetto Trilogy, based around the references to the Cornetto brand of ice cream treats in each film and the recurring set of actors we see in each movie.  Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost have created a series of loosely connected films that have all proven to be immensely entertaining and have grown a tremendous fan base. All three movies are more than worth your time and deserve multiple viewings to catch all the hidden references and easter eggs. Below is my brief opinion of each movie.

Shaun of the Dead is quite frankly an amazing movie. The perfect blend of horror and comedy where the humor does not minimize the violent aspects of a zombie film, but actually add to it. This was one of those films that came out of nowhere and quickly developed a cult following. Even if you are not a fan of horror you need to give this film a shot. The social commentary is brilliant and accurate. If you are a horror movie aficionado the references to various zombie films are a thrill to discover. This is one of those rare films that I never seem to get tired of watching.

Hot Fuzz came next and stepped away from the horror side, but the violence and gore makes it seem awfully close to being one. It definitely has a different tone than Shaun of the Dead, but still seems to fit perfectly into this loosely connected ‘universe’. It is funny and violent throughout and the final act of the film is non-stop violent, over-the-top, fun. This is definitely a movie that needs multiple viewings since I am still finding new things despite watching this movie more than a handful of times.

The third and final film is The World’s End. This time we are watching a sci-fi comedy that does not disappoint.and perfectly continues the irreverent theme running through the entire “trilogy”. There was concern that Pegg, Frost, and Wright may not be able to triplicate their success, but that concern was unnecessary. Yet another great film from these three minds.

These are all great movies that need to be seen by anyone who considers themselves a fan of a bit off-center movie making. They have developed a huge fan base and deservedly so.