The Dead Don't Die

The appearance of flesh-eating zombies prompts typically understated reactions in the latest film from American indie auteur Jim Jarmusch (Paterson). Sporting a potent Twin Peaks vibe, The Dead Don't Die boasts ample affection for the slow pace and quirky traits of small-town living. Nevertheless, it's set against a backdrop of "total planetary destruction" as polar fracking turns the earth on its axis and somehow unleashes the undead. Heading up a fine cast comprised primarily of previous Jarmusch collaborators, Bill Murray and Adam Driver are the cops trying to get to grips with the chaos, while Tilda Swinton is a standout as an unflappable martial artist/mortician, and the zombies include Carol Kane and Iggy Pop. Made in obvious deference to George A Romero, father of the zombie apocalypse film, Jarmusch's film has impressive love for the oeuvre, and his macabre imagery combines appealingly with the spooky synth score. However, the absence of scares is odd even for a comedy horror, and the environmental angle doesn't quite come off. Meanwhile, the line delivery can feel more stilted than laid back, and the self-referential stuff is a shuffling step too far. Still, Jarmusch has fun tinkering with genre tropes and does so with flair.