The most-watched horror movie on Netflix today is an absurdist zombie comedy from a decorated indie filmmaker. The feature of which I speak is Jim Jarmusch’s The Dead Don’t Die. The flick sits as the third most-watched film on the platform across all genres on this fine day.
It’s surprising that The Dead Don’t Die didn’t pull in bigger numbers at the box office when it bowed in 2019. A global take of just over $15 million seems a bit low, considering the flick boasts an ensemble cast brimming with household names. At any rate, it’s nice to see this zany horror comedy gaining traction on Netflix.
The film premiered as the festival opener at Cannes in 2019. The critical reaction to The Dead Don’t Die was mixed, but skewed positive. Reviews praised the picture’s sense of humor and cast.
Speaking of the dynamite cast, the lineup includes Bill Murray, Chloë Sevigny, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Tom Waits, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Rosie Perez, Caleb Landry Jones, Iggy Pop, Carol Kane, RZA, Austin Butler, and Selena Gomez.
When the project was announced, Daniel Craig was also set to star. However, the Knives Out actor does not appear in the film.
It’s not entirely surprising that Jim Jarmusch was able to assemble such a talented cast. He is a decorated indie filmmaker who has won multiple awards at prestigious festivals throughout his decades-spanning career. In 2002, the National Film Registry added his 1984 feature Stranger Than Paradise to their preservation archive based on its historical and cultural significance.
The setup for this zombie comedy on Netflix goes like this:
In the sleepy small town of Centerville, something is not quite right. The moon hangs large and low in the sky, the hours of daylight are becoming unpredictable, and animals are beginning to exhibit unusual behaviors. News reports are scary, and scientists are concerned, but no one foresees the strangest and most dangerous repercussion that will soon start plaguing Centerville: the dead rise from their graves and feast on the living, and the citizens must battle to survive.
That’s all we’ve got for you at present, dear reader. Be sure to stay tuned to Dread Central for more enticing updates on which films are charting on your favorite streaming platforms. If you’d like to chat more about indie filmmakers and their impact on the cinematic pantheon, feel free to look me up on Threads.
Categorized:News
