The Dead Don't Die (2019)

Jim Jarmusch's films rarely grab me. There are a few exceptions, including his most recent preceding this one, Paterson, but generally I am left feeling very little after a Jarmusch film. Early into The Dead Don't Die it became clear to me this was another of his which wouldn't resonate with me. I kept hope alive, wishing it would get better, perhaps because of the cast or maybe my affinity for zombie films, but it never got better, it got worse. Other than the theme song from the amazing Strugill Simpson, I liked nothing about The Dead Don't Die.

The Dead Don't Die is annoyingly self aware. Speaking of Simpson, early on Driver's character references the song on the radio as the "theme song" and there is a long, long beat, begging the audience to laugh. But the joke not only takes you completely out of the movie (clearly its purpose) but it just isn't really that funny. The Dead Don't Die has a number of fourth wall breaking moments but here's the thing. It doesn't do anything with it. If you're going to experiment with form like that it would have more impact if it meant something. It doesn't. The Dead Don't Die's biggest struggle is that it isn't about anything. And no, that's not the point. it's not some comment on meaninglessness. It just isn't about anything.

Oh the film tries to piece together some thought provoking message about us all being dead inside all along but it doesn't earn it. It just tells us. Literally. It has a character say it out loud. It doesn't show us this in a meaningful way. Just tacks it on at the end like an afterthought. And here's the thing about that. That is what every zombie movie is about!!! That is what Romero's point was way back when. It's been said. It's been done. If that's all you got...

The Dead Don't Die tries to be satire but it isn't overly funny and doesn't grasp on to a good target of that satire to begin with. So it all just falls flat. The cast stands around delivering awkward lines in awkward manners with long periods of waiting in between as if we're supposed to be laughing or ruminating or whatever. But all this creates is a high level of boredome. Its themes are shallow, it's jokes clunky, and its approach (probably purposefully) wooden. It is a bit torturous to be honest.

And again maybe if the film had offered us some wisdom out of all that tedium it could have had some power. Instead it recycles all the cliches of the genre without adding anything new, takes us out of the experience by taking the awkward approach and rather forcefully breaking the fourth wall, and generally doesn't entertain. I know there are folks who are drawn to truly broad satire without significant meaning, perhaps just for the sake of being ironic. That's not me. I need something a bit meatier.

The Dead Don't Die
Starring: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny, Tilda Swinton, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, RZA, Carol Kane, Selena Gomez, Tom Waits, Sturgill Simpson
Writer/Director: Jim Jarmusch