The Dead Don’t Die (2019)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

The Dead Don’t Die (2019) – J. Jarmusch

No doubt some viewers came to this film expecting a Shaun of the Dead styled zom-com starring Bill Murray or perhaps even an actual horror film.  Instead, they got Jim Jarmusch’s droll take on the genre, which is closer to George Romero’s original blend of horror and social commentary but slowed way down and speckled with the director’s trademark ironic humour. I agree with those who said that the film seems to be rather pointless – most of the social commentary is reserved for a monologue from Tom Waits’ Hermit Bob at the very end (basically “humans suck”).  The rest of the film is just opportunities for Jarmusch’s friends (Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny, Iggy Pop) to play at being zombies or to lovingly recreate and/or offer some references to the genre (aping Romero’s idea that consumerism = zombie-ism) or to cool culture (comic books, movies), set to a guitar-driven soundtrack by Jarmusch’s band SQÜRL (and the title country music song).  Tilda Swinton gives a very weird turn as a katana-wielding Scottish mortician.  It’s all pretty easy-going, nothing new on the zombie front, nor really on the social commentary front. Given the pessimism here (and some of the music), I guess you might call it a dirge.  No one exactly seems like they are having much fun (except Swinton), Bill Murray most of all.