‘The Dead Don’t Die’ a deadpan zom-com boosted by A-grade cast

With an amusing premise elevated by a stellar cast, The Dead Don’t Die pokes gentle fun at the gory and overwrought zombie movie genre but lacks real bite.

Bill Murray and Adam Driver in The Dead Don't Die.

Welcome to Centerville.

A sign as you enter town tells you it’s “a real nice place”.

Now look once more at the title of this movie.

Centerville won’t have a hope in hell of keeping itself nice for too much longer.

Especially now that some newly zombie-fied former residents have returned, looking to pick up where they left off while still alive. 

Oh, and they’re rather hungry after taking that dirt nap, too.

So begins The Dead Don’t Die, a deliriously deadpan zom-com looking to have some smart fun at the expense of how dumb the whole zombie movie thing can be if you think mildly hard about it. 

Adam Driver, Chloë Sevigny and Bill Murray play cops tasked with tracking down zombies.

While rarely staggering into the realm of the laugh-out-loud, the movie’s couldn’t-care-less cool about its silly subject never gets old. 

It doesn’t exactly hurt that director Jim Jarmusch has attracted an A-grade cast to this goofy B-movie, led by Bill Murray and Star Wars regular Adam Driver as Centerville’s best cops on the case. 

Officers Cliff Robertson (Murray), Ronnie Peterson (Driver) and their third-in-command Mindy Morrison (Chloë Sevigny) certainly recognise the severity of the situation unfolding around them, but not always the urgency.

The lack of speed of any tactical response becomes a running joke in itself, as do the mundane motivations of the zombies.

Punk legend Iggy Pop has a sneaky cameo in The Dead Don’t Die. Source: Supplied

It’s not just all about the lust for live flesh for this lot.

One has a craving for chardonnay.

Another needs a coffee.

There’s even one zombie who wants nothing more than a decent wi-fi connection. 

The dry delivery of such gags and the stoner-ish overall vibe of The Dead Don’t Die will prove to be an acquired taste for many (hardcore zombie fans included).

However, that quality cast list keeps the whole thing on the right side of average.

Co-stars set to chow down or be chomped include Steve Buscemi, Iggy Pop, Tilda Swinton, Tom Waits and Selena Gomez.

THE DEAD DON’T DIE (MA15+)

Director: Jim Jarmusch (Paterson)

Starring : Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloë Sevigny, Iggy Pop, Tom Waits.

Rating: ***

Putting a grave face on it.

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