The Dead Don’t Die (2019)

The Dead Don’t Die (Dir: Jim Jarmusch, 2019).

Writer/director Jim Jarmusch pays homage to George A Romero in the zombie comedy (zomedy?) The Dead Don’t Die. 

Rural small town Centerville finds itself in the midst of of zombie uprising somehow linked to the altering of the Earth's rotation due to polar fracking (?). At the centre of the action are local police chief Cliff Robertson (Bill Murray) and his partner, officer Ronnie Peterson (Adam Driver), who must attempt to hold off the meat hungry horde from consuming the community.

Although, its roots are firmly planted in Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (George A Romero, 1968) and its subsequent sequels, with or without a knowledge of the Romero oeuvre, The Dead Don’t Die is still a fun, albeit grizzly Zombie fest. All the ingredients are present to make a classic comedy horror in the vein of say, Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004), and this it very nearly achieves. But ultimately, while it’s nicely atmospheric with gore to spare, something it about doesn’t quite gel. If it has any flaws it is that it tries a little too hard to be quirky; as if a cult movie by design. It’s never quite as funny as it should be, while attempts to break the fourth wall and references to movie’s script seem a little laboured and too self-conscious.  

With Jim Jarmusch as director and an outstanding cast the movie was never going to be a total loss. Of the cast, Adam Driver stands out; proving with each role that there is more to him than brooding bad guy Kylo Ren. Master of deadpan Bill Murray is, well, Bill Murray being deadpan. This, however, should be enough for most viewers. Meanwhile, Tilda Swinton is a welcome addition as a samurai sword wielding undertaker,  although her character is a little underused and seems likely added to up the quirky quotient. 

The Dead Don’t Die is a good movie. I just get the feeling it could have been better. While it must be regarded as a minor entry on Jarmusch’s CV it is still a worthwhile watch. Especially for lovers of the living dead.