Dead Set
4 out of 5This years Big Brother is dead boring!
Whenever the "TV event of the year" is proclaimed, I normally take it with a pinch of salt. This time though it is warranted. Dead Set is a fantastic, ambitious, enthusiastic play on a cultural phenomenon (whether you like it or not) and also one of the goriest British horrors of recent years. It's not particularly original, but it's a horror story made for and by horror fans. Loads of nudge-wink references to classic horrors and not one concession to gimmickry that such a show would normally do, just by default. On the contrary, it's pretty edgy at times and very funny in a sick way, not a Shaun of the Dead way.
The core idea is a cracker. A zombie epidemic is efficiently destroying the UK, so quickly, there is no time to bring up-to-date the housemates of the biggest reality show of all. They have no idea the world is falling apart, cocooned in their little fake world. Plenty to read into there, but Charlie Brooker has said that while talk of metaphors is bound to happen, it was no way designed like that. But the great thing about zombies is they come with their own built-in, natural metaphors while the director and effects boys just have fun.
The story plays out very well. All the classic motifs are here as the survivors come together; break down of authority (two hilarious coppers), desperate run for supplies, cocky sniper. And the characters are really well written. Big Brother is designed around very contrasting personalities so it makes sense all these people have their own fleshed out neuroses and some are very dark. There's one creep watching one of the girls showering. Cleverly, we're enjoying it too ("Boobies!") so when she calmly announces "I know you're there" and says how pathetic he is, who is she talking about?
Add a producer modelled on the General in Day of the Dead and it's a perfect mix. The dialogue is very memorable, especially between the bastard producer and an airhead, just evicted contestant. Her whiny little catchphrase of "Don't like it" just cracks me up!
It's filmed honestly and seriously, and Big Brother is only the centre point of a much bigger plot. However, it is the centre and works all the better for the full commitment Channel 4 have obviously given. Even so far as turning beloved Davina McCall into a zombie!
The final point I want to make, is that in the last two episodes especially, the gore is possibly the most horrible I've ever seen. Another Day of the Dead reference in particular. It is astonishingly well done.
A feature length version of the episodes will be screened tomorrow I believe. Meanwhile, go to
www.e4.com/deadset for more information and a chance to stream the episodes. Hope it works for you lot over the pond because this is really worth seeing. if not, there is a DVD.
With the afore-mentioned Shaun and 28 Days Later (and its sequel), Dead Set proves the very best zombies are right here in the UK! A point bolstered by the lacklustre Diary of the Dead.
