Postmodern zombie flick never takes itself seriously
A Jim Jarmusch film comes with certain expectations. There’s bound to be the coolest of cool in terms of cast, and a wry indie aesthetic will permeate the proceedings. With The Dead Don’t Die, he might have finally crossed over into the world of populist people pleaser.
Showcasing Adam Driver, his previous partner from Paterson, and stalwart Bill Murray, The Dead Don’t Die takes the standard zombie tale, sets it in upstate New York, and puts a big load of contemporary politics in play, along with some self-referential meta-movie tidbits.
Chief Cliff Robertson (Murray) leads a police force of two, Officer Ronnie Peterson (Driver) and Officer Mindy Morrison (Chloë Sevigny) during an apocalyptic time in history. The earth has been knocked off its axis due to “polar fracking,” and what do you know? That wakes up the dead!
A sleepy small town gets transformed into a living nightmare, and it’s clear that this “isn’t going to end well,” a line that Peterson keeps repeating to Robertson’s chagrin.
Jarmusch loves pulling threads from beginning to end. One is the doom-laden catch phrase above. Another is a recurring song by Sturgill Simpson, with the same name as the film. Then there’s the political commentary. Steve Buscemi’s Farmer Frank Miller wears a red cap that read “Keep America White Again.” No subtlety there.
The worst thing that can be said about The Dead Don’t Die is that the trailer captures 90% of its essence. Maybe that’s because it’s a great trailer, but still. On the other hand, a general audience found the combination of gore and humor a perfect fit.
If Jarmusch has found a way to penetrate the megaplex, then surely that’s a good thing. He’s one of the most talented filmmakers of his generation, and allowing his clever brand of storytelling to reach a broader audience is a perfect way to start the summer.