"The Dead Don't Die" Jarmusch's critique of civilization and respect for George A. Romero

“The Dead Don't Die” Synopsis

In Centerville, a rural American town where there are only three police officers, an unprecedented mysterious incident occurs. The deformed bodies of two women with their internal organs torn out are found in a diner. Police chief Cliff (Bill Murray) and constable Ronnie (Adam Driver), who are dispatched in a state of confusion, confront a racist farmer, a recluse camping out in the woods, a young horror geek at a general store, and a mysterious mistress at a funeral parlor. While patrolling a town where many people live, they discover a hole in a cemetery that looks like something has crawled out of the ground. At that time, in Centerville, the sun was slow to set even at night, and abnormal phenomena were occurring one after another, with smartphones and watches breaking, and animals going missing. Eventually, Ronnie's ominous premonition comes true, and countless dead bodies come back to life and begin biting the stunned locals. Cliff and Ronnie, armed with guns and machetes, throw themselves into a fierce battle with Dawn of the Dead that keep coming back no matter how many times they are defeated, with the slogan "Kill the head!", but even more shocking sights await them on their way. I was...

Index

• A critique of civilization like a satirical comic
• George A. Romero and the Midnight Movie
• George A. Romero is the “godmother of independent films”
• Casting featuring the Jarmusch family
• Civilization critic Jarmusch's mysterious can...?

A critique of civilization like a satirical comic

When I first heard that Jim Jarmusch, the popular American director known for ` `Stranger Than Paradise '' (1984), had directed a Dawn of the Dead movie, I was a little surprised at first. This is because up until then, his filmography had little connection to the horror genre.

``Only Lovers Left Alive '' (2013) is an exceptional film in which he approaches horror, and the main characters are vampire lovers. However, there were almost no scenes of him attacking people, and the main character was elegantly drinking blood from a glass that had been chilled like wine in the refrigerator. The horror atmosphere was weak, and the love story was the main focus.

However, this time, scenes of monsters attacking humans frequently appear. Even humans who are about to be attacked can hit the Dawn of the Dead's neck with a gun or hammer! Throughout the play, many heads fly in the air. It may be rare to find a Jarmusch film with so many grotesque scenes.

"The Dead Don't Die" trailer

However, since the director is known for his light-hearted humor, even the gory scenes are sprinkled with laughter. The Dawn of the Dead repeat the same words over and over again: ``coffee,'' ``fashion,'' ``chardonnay (wine),'' and ``Wi-Fi,'' which were the things they were most particular about when they were alive. The monster that wanders around town wanting it may be a parody of modern people who tend to be obsessed with things.

Looking at such Dawn of the Dead images makes me reconsider Jarmusch's career. If he had a talent for drawing, he might have become a comic artist and demonstrated his talent with satirical manga...

When I think about it, it felt like reading a comic book, such as `` Coffee & Cigarettes '' (2003), a collection of his short stories. This new work has an unusually grotesque depiction, but the dialogue has a dry feel and the offbeat laughter is still there. The story of the residents of the small American town of Centerville panicking when Dawn of the Dead unexpectedly appear can be seen as his own "satire comic."

The main characters are three police officers. Chief Cliff (Bill Murray), Officer Ronnie (Adam Driver), and Officer Mindy (Chloë Sevigny). One day, a call comes in that a chicken has been stolen, and Cliff and Ronnie begin investigating. The town only has really small shops, such as a small diner, a motel, and a general store that doubles as a gas station, but when the first victim appears, fear spreads through the town.

“The Dead Don't Die” (c)2019 Image Eleven Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The story begins with Officer Ronnie's watch stopping, and from there a series of strange events occur.In an interview, Jarmusch said, ``Right now, what I'm concerned about is the earth's environmental problems.'' Nature is being destroyed like never before in history, and yet humans are only thinking about buying shoes for themselves.'' (criterion.com)

An abnormality occurs in the natural world, causing Dawn of the Dead to appear and disrupting the balance of the peaceful town. Even in such a situation, humans are trying to live only for their own desires.

Jarmusch's Dawn of the Dead movies contain this kind of perspective on modern times. Watching the chaotic human world from afar is the "recluse" Bob (Tom Waits), and his character, who sees the world from a diagonal perspective, also reflects the director's ironic perspective on the current era.