As difficult as it is to accept, the iconic sitcom Spaced is more than 25 years old. While Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, and Jessica Hynes (then Stevenson) had all worked together on the 1996 series Asylum, newcomer Nick Frost had only appeared in a couple of episodes of the sketch show Big Train before landing his iconic role as Mike in Spaced.
Over the last 25 (ish) years Frost has reteamed with Pegg & Wright, made a few TV shows, and in more recent times, returned to the loving embrace of horror. He’s even in talks to take on the role of Hagrid in the new Harry Potter series!
To celebrate the release of his new film Black Cab on Blu-ray, DVD and digital from April 7 (courtesy of Acorn Media International), here’s a selection of unmissable turns from Nick Frost in horror movies, a TV show, and a trailer for a movie that you Don’t want to miss.
Shaun of the Dead
The one that started it all… Frost’s feature debut in Edgar Wright’s seminal zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead. Frost gives a scene-stealing turn as the lazy but loveable roommate Ed of the titular Shaun, played of course by his partner in crime Simon Pegg. There are too many memorable moments to mention, but this film kicked off the famed Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, making the apocalyptic zombie comedy a British horror classic and the actor a force to be reckoned with.
Attack the Block
Talking of British cult classics, Frost returned to the hood in Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block which set a new standard for fun and clever horror entertainment. The film takes us to the mean streets of South London where a teenage gang must defend their block from an alien invasion. Frost gives another wicked turn as drug dealer Ron, whose weed room is famously the safest place on the block. The terrifying aliens certainly don’t want to be friends, and peace is nowhere in sight, but Frost eases the terror with his comedic talents.
Slaughterhouse Rulez
In 2017 Frost reunited with his Spaced and Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy co-star Simon Pegg to set up their production company Stolen Picture. Slaughterhouse Rulez was their first feature and saw the duo star alongside Michael Sheen and Asa Butterfield. An illustrious British boarding school becomes a bloody battleground when a mysterious sinkhole appears at a nearby fracking site, unleashing unspeakable horror. Frost stars as anti-fracking hippy stoner Woody Chapman, of course providing plenty of laughs in this gore filled comedy.
Get Away
Frost has more recently expanded his horror horizons, writing and producing British horror-comedy Get Away which sees him star alongside another comedy fave, Aisling Bea. The hilarious yet spooky Scandinavian set feature pays homage to classic folk horror with a family’s vacation to a remote getaway taking a terrifying turn when they discover there’s a serial killer living on their idyllic holiday island.
Krazy House
Co-starring alongside Clueless legend Alicia Silverstone, this 90s set 2024 horror comedy has Frost on fine form as Bernie, a family man who must take action when the workmen in his house turn out to be criminals looking for their stashed loot. While it’s a little light on horror overall, a couple of memorable moments tick the horror movie box, and it’s an underseen helping of Frost in action.
Truth Seekers
While it might be TV series, and a Sci-fi-comedy-horror series, the small screen reunion of Pegg and Frost is full of horrific moments. Frost stars as Gus, a down-to-earth, yet bumbling, paranormal investigator. As part of a team hunting for supernatural occurrences, Frost brings his signature charm and humor, effortlessly blending the absurd with the eerie. In truth, Pegg and Frost only have a handful of scenes together throughout the 8 episode series, but their hilarious chemistry is there in every frame.
Frost proves once again that the horror genre is his happy place, adding both heart and laughs to the supernatural chaos.
Don’t (2007)
It might be a fake trailer for a movie that doesn’t exist, but it’s a fake trailer directed by Edgar Wright that was part of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriquez’s Grindhouse. Frost features alongside Jason Isaacs, Matthew Macfadyen, singer Katie Melua, Emily Booth, , Lucy Punch, Rafe Spall, Simon Pegg, and a voice-over by Will Arnett. If Thanksgiving and Machete can become real movies, maybe Don’t will one day.
Black Cab
Frost takes an acting diversion in Black Cab and delivers a truly chilling turn as a toxic taxi driver. Creepy cabbie Ian takes a young couple, with relationship issues, on the ride from hell. With shocking twists and revelations sure to scare your socks off, this is Frost’s most sinister role yet and one Black Cab ride you’ll never forget…
