Welcome to Episode 76 of the “Reel Chat Podcast.” This week we continue our countdown of Empire Magazine’s Top 100 Greatest Movies of all time.

Call it the “Blood and Ice Cream trilogy” or the “Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy” or simply the “Cornetto trilogy”. Whatever name you assign, the three films by British director and co-writer Edgar Wright, co-writer and star Simon Pegg, and co-star Nick Frost have developed a cult following, and for good reason. After collaborating on Britain’s Channel 4 television show Spaced (1999 to 2001), the trio of talents went on to make three features together: “Shaun Of The Dead (2004)”, “Hot Fuzz (2007)”, and finally “The World’s End (2013)”. “Shaun Of The Dead” launches the trilogy with a “zombie rom-com”, an ambitious label achieved by its prevailing hilarity, scares, romantic sentiments, and graphic doses of gore. Just as George A. Romero has used zombies as an allegory for racism, consumerism, and sociopolitical apathy, Wright uses zombies as a metaphor.  Somehow, Wright and his cast have the audience laughing and gasping and recognizing some obscure reference from start to finish. Our reactions are always multifaceted, shared equally in laughter, terror, and fond affection for lovable characters.

Joining your host Adam Stolfo and Reel Chat regular Andrew McCaskill is new semi-regular Jesse O’Brien as well as special guest “jack-of-all-trades” Andy Hazel. Join the team as they discuss the “outbreak” of the zombie genre in the mid noughties, the impressive body of work of Wright, Pegg and Frost, thoughts on why the dead may have reanimated, as well as touching upon the many, many gags and references the film pays homage to.

So does “Shaun Of The Dead” deserve it’s spot in the Top 100? And is position number 89 where it belongs?

THE TEAM’S REVIEW SCORES

Adam          4 out of 5 – RECOMMEND 

Andrew       3 out of 5 – RECOMMEND

Jesse          4 out of 5 – RECOMMEND

Andy           4 out of 5 – RECOMMEND