THE DEAD DON'T DIE (2019)

Written & Directed By: Jim Jarmusch 
Cinematography: Frederick Elmes 
Editor: Affonso Goncalves 

Cast: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Chloe Sevingy, Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, RZA, Selena Gomez, Larry Fessenden, Carol Kane, Iggy Pop, Rosie Perez, Tom Waits, Danny Glover, Jahi Winston, Caleb Landry Jones, Austin Butler, Luka Sabbat 


The peaceful town of Centerville finds itself battling a zombie horde as the dead start rising from their graves.


I really wanted to enjoy this film as I am a fan of most Jim Jarmusch films but this film just seems like a waste. It has an impressive cast even if half of them are here more is small supporting roles and cameos.

The only character who truly makes a mark is Tilda Sinton’s Scottish samurai mortician. She is funny in bits but seems the only truly original character here.

Now Jim Jarmusch’s films can be slow, but they have never felt boring or tedious until this film. Where you wonder what is the point. Constantly. Sure the humor is dry but rarely is it actually funny. Which is a shame as he has interesting characters waiting for something better to be in and even though it homages NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD quite a bit it also seems useless.

As like that film there seems to be some kind of lighter commentary about people being slaves to familiar behavior and a little blatant political humor with Steve Buscemi’s character.

Though for instance there seems to be no reason for the hipster characters that Selena Gomez is part of. As it just seems like a movie Jim Jarmusch wanted to make and involve some friends and people he might have always wanted to work with and knew a kind of horror story with zombies would be easier to get funding for, but also let’s him explore a fascination and put his own spin on it.

Unfortunately other then some insider meta jokes that feel out of place and go nowhere. There doesn’t seem to be much passion or really interest from the director in the subject. As nothing feels that distinct nor has that artistic touch he usually brings to projects.

The only thing he brings is the eclectic cast and the dry humor. Which unfortunately isn’t enough we need less appearance and more performance.

As a horror film it isn’t scary or that innovative and as a comedy bit that funny. So that the film feels like it is stuck in limbo. It pays homage and plays around a bit in the nooks and crannies of the genre. While also having a self referential theme throughout that comes off more as an inside joke. That by the end makes it feel like you are putting in more hope then is worth it.

Tilda Swinton is fun and the little over the top character are cute like for someone so vicious she becomes s school girl in voice and attitude when talking about a crush.

In the end the movie could have really been something special. Especially with dismantling the genre and commenting on it. Where as, as it plays it just seems he was able to get all these actors together and just wrote something quick to put them all in and maybe following ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE felt was in the mood for horror. Not to mention as that film got him some of his greatest reviews and may have been bigger box office then his regular films. As this was the one that had the widest release of all his films. He might have decided to make another genre movie with his own touch.


Grade: C-