The Dead Don’t Die is a cleverly constructed yet fun look at the sub-genre of horror films dealing with the coming of a zombie apocalypse set in the middle of nowhere. The problem is I’m not sure exactly how this film finds an audience. It’s as if Jim Jarmusch realized this when he began writing the narrative for the film almost resigned to the fact that this release could get lost in the shuffle. Could that be the reason why everyone was so loose in the film or could that be the nature of a Jarmusch piece? Whatever the reason, it’s hard not to respect his commitment to the piece.
So what’s the premise of The Dead Don’t Die, the best way to describe the film is its as if The Andy Griffith Show experienced an attack by the undead. Officer Cliff Robertson (Bill Murray), Deputy Minerva Morrison (Chloë Sevigny), and Deputy Ronald Peterson (Adam Driver) are starting to notice that things aren’t quite normal in Centerville. During a routine complaint call, they notice the animals seem to be going into hiding. News reports are stating a change in the rotation of the earth. All the while, people are trying to keep things regular, but there’s nothing ordinary about this town or what’s to come.
Before too long, all hell is breaking loose and rather than heading for the hills, Cliff is taking things in stride. One of the standout elements of the film is its writing. Yes, it’s a bit odd, but Jarmusch crafted some amusing moments. I did enjoy Murray and Driver in the movie. My biggest issue with the film is those moments they kept in the film which seemed to be improvised. Those tended to drag at times, which made a rather brisk running time tend to drag. Overall, it didn’t detract from the enjoyment of the film but did stop any momentum the film had.
Dewey Singleton has been reviewing new releases in television and film for many years. Dewey's reviews have been heard in multiple markets (Houston Atlanta, Tampa). Dewey's past work has been with awardswatch.com, awardsradar.com, and bleeding cool. Dewey is a proud member of the CCA.