Zombie movies aren’t the usual Perth Festival fare that’s true. As the audience filled every seat at the small Backlot Studio, I heard one reviewer suggest “it’s the Perth Festival attempting to look cool”. Would The Dead Don’t Die movie gamble pay off or not?
Hermit Bob (Tom Waits) acts as our initial guide as we get introduced to Centerville, the sleepy small town where clocks and phones have mysteriously stopped working. He also delivers one of the best lines …
“The world is perfect, appreciate the details.“
Chief Police Officer Cliff Robertson (Bill Murray) and Officer Ronnie Peterson (Adam River) are on patrol, dealing with farmer Frank Miller’s (Steve Buscemi) lost chicken. As more and more animals go missing and the sun refuses to set, we hear news reports about fracking at the polar icecaps.
When the dead start to rise from their graves, climate change becomes the least of their concerns.
There’s a suggestion of hope as kooky Scottish funeral director Zelda Winston (Tilda Swinton) appears as a potential saviour.
As I wandered back to the car, highly cognisant of the rustling in the bushes, I pondered:
- The slow moving first half of the movie aptly set the mood of anticipation. With a sprinkling of Fargo and Mars Attacks sensibilities, the movie had me in it’s spell. That was until the last twenty minutes, which was such a shame. Sadly the movie catchphrase, “this is all going to end badly” proved to be true.
- Iggy Pop never looked so well, and it was great to see Bill Murray on screen again. Sadly Murray’s zombie tracking abilities proved less successful than his ghost busting.
- While Swinton’s time on screen was limited, she made the most of every minute. Her character was a delight, a Scottish Kill Bill.
- The environmental tie in was interesting, however the message lost all subtlety when driven home a few too many times. Throw in a comment about consumerism in the final statement and the messages felt heavy handed.
- Oh and just for your information, if zombies ever come knocking, go for the head.
For more information go to Perth Festival and The Backlot Studios.
-
overall
