Queens of the Dead (2025)

Yes Queens of the Dead is camp fun and leans away from the scary side of zombie movies and into the comedy. But as the group of queer and trans survivors thinned and were making their final push to safety it became clear that the film is about something really different. Like how the director's father's films used the zombies to comment on issues the world was dealing with, Tina Romero's zombies are commenting too, on something very now, as are her survivors. 

The zombies here are glued to their phones and their focus is pulled by posts, influencers, and the pulsing beats of EDM. They are a reflection on drug culture, made brainless by their addictions. They are crowds that follow, whatever shiny object or show is put in front of them. 

And while that is interesting, it's not what I felt the true triumph of Queens of the Dead was. Romero's insight here is in queerness and queer resiliency. Her cast, made up of queer and trans actors, survive due to their queerness. There is a pivotal moment where it comes together. One character points out that "this is a matter of life and death" and another responds with "it's always both." Because for queer and trans people have always faced choosing life while facing death. They survive through choosing to be alive in the face of a world that wants to wipe them out, and they do so joyfully and authentically. There are strong themes of chosen family here too. Romero has captured the queer experience so insightfully with this camp parody, a love letter to resilience and being anything but normal. 

And that, for me, is what made Queens of the Dead such a beautiful film, and so much fun. From Spivey's delightful cover of Blow, to Jackson's signature cheekbones and attitude, to Cho's over the top butch cameo, to West's mothering, this cast is all here for it and a delight to have together on screen. And the film even ends with a classic zombie movie nod that I want more of. Love live the queens. 

Queens of the Dead

Starring: Katy O'Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Riki Lindhome, Jack Haven, Eve Lindley, Nina West, Cheyenne Jackson, Margaret Cho, Dominique Jackson

Director: Tina Romero

Writers: Erin Judge, Tina Romero