Grimmfest’s Zombie Double Bill at Stockport Plaza

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

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Grimmfest's Zombie Double Bill

20 February 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Shaun of the Dead
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Grimmfest get gory with a zom-rom-com double bill staged in conjunction with The Horror Channel’s Zombie Month. Straddling the Atlantic, this terrifying twofer consists of director Edgar Wright’s breakout Brit-hit, Shaun of the Dead and Ruben Fleischer’s Hollywood production, Zombieland at Stockport Plaza. A ten minute train journey from Manchester city centre, the Plaza is a restored 1932, Grade II listed building and one of our favourite places to catch a movie. For their part, Grimmfest specialise in cult, horror and fantastic screenings, delivered with added extras and a community atmosphere.

Despite their different origins, these zombie comedies pair together remarkably well. Taking their cue from George A. Romero’s genre-defining work, each film pays respectful homage while finding individual comedic tones and increasingly ridiculous ways to dispatch the undead. Both films also provide opportunities to look back at the beginnings of some of contemporary cinema’s biggest stars.

Shaun of the Dead united the talent behind TV’s dosser-comedy Spaced on the big-screen. Director Edgar Wright (Hot FuzzBaby Driver) has continued to work, with and without stars, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost – but it’s arguable that their standout effort was here, battling zombies across suburbia. In hilariously transposing the everyday romances, bickering and grievances of a couple of flatmates to an apocalyptic setting, Wright and co. produced a relatable comedy which stands up as a modern cult classic.

In 2017, Emma Stone won Best Actress for her work on Damien Chazelle’s dazzling La La Land, but she was impressing years before in her role as Wichita, surviving the end of the world opposite a young Jesse Eisenberg in Zombieland. Much loved, ten years on from release, the film also boasts the talents of veteran actor Woody Harrelson and Little Miss Sunshine’s Abbie Breslin as the other members of a motley, zombie-fighting foursome – and that’s not to mention a best left unspoiled comedy cameo.

Where to go near Grimmfest’s Zombie Double Bill at Stockport Plaza

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Museum
Air Raid Shelters

Carved into the natural sandstone cliffs, the intriguing network of underground tunnels offers visitors an unparalleled insight into life in wartime Britain in the 1940’s.

Merseyway is built on giant stilts over the river Mersey – hence the name! It was one of the first shopping centres to open in 1965 and was refurbished in 1995. Merseyway are proud of their heritage and their role in continuing to attract visitors to Stockport. They strive to live up to the brand promise “famous brands, fabulously close”.
Manchester
Merseyway Shopping Centre

Merseyway is built on giant stilts over the river Mersey – hence the name! It was one of the first shopping centres to open in 1965 and was refurbished in 1995. Merseyway are proud of their heritage and their role in continuing to attract visitors to Stockport. They strive to live up to the brand promise “famous brands, fabulously close”.

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Stockport
Library
Stockroom

Stockroom is Stockport’s new centre for culture and creativity, with a library, a children’s play area and a whole host of exciting events.

Image licensed with iStock.
Stockport
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Stockport Central Library

Stockport Central Library is a Carnegie library, built 1913–15 in the Edwardian Baroque style. It continues to serve as Stockport’s largest library.

Manchester
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Top hats, bowlers, trilbies …. who doesn’t love a hat? Visit the UK’s only collection devoted to hats which celebrates Stockport’s role in the hatting industry.

Stockport Memorial Gallery on Wellington Road Stockport.
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Stockport
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This Stockport-based modern food hall has a beer-focused bar and plenty of food stalls to satisfy all tastes.

Stockport
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Bohemian Arts Club

Bohemian Arts Club is a chic and intimate cocktail bar in Stockport owned by Blossoms singer Tom and Katie Ogden.

Odioba
Stockport
Restaurant
Odioba

Odioba is a new audiophile bar in Stockport, from the team behind the much-missed NAM. Coffee shop by day, bar by night.

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