The Dead Don’t Die is a rather gruesome horror-comedy written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, which often seems as dead as the persistent zombies roaming the street s in spite of the star power employed here.
The film stars Bill Murray. Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Selena Gomez, Carol Kane, and quite a few others. Even their considerable talents could not keep me fully engaged in this film.
It’s a pretty standard zombie flick in many ways, but Jarmusch injects this deadpan sort of humor that seemingly falls flatter than was intended. In this little town known as Centerville, the dead start walking again due to some strange astronomical event that was nonsensical that I don’t even remember what it was called.
Murray and Driver have a sort of wooden double act as two of the town’s police officers trying to figure out the reason for these mysterious cannibalistic deaths. The town is full of strange characters played by the likes of Steve Buscemi and Danny Glover. It was kind of cool to see Glover.
Also, there were some moments that the fourth wall was breached, which was supposed to enhance the intent of this being a comedy. It didn’t work that well for me. I don’t mind that sort of tactic at times, but a better writer needs to take that on.
I appreciate that Jarmusch was trying to be somewhat innovative in this genre of film, but he just didn’t quite hold it together for me. It could be well that zombie movies are a hard nut to crack when it comes to present a more original vision, but this project didn’t really have the secret to doing that successfully.’
Anyway, it’s a little too bizarre for my taste, and that’s saying something considering my other indulgences when it comes to cinema.
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