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Jim Jarmusch’s 2019 zombie-comedy, The Dead Don't Die, now streaming on Netflix, stands apart from most other productions thanks to a very intentional unique characteristic as it doesn’t hide away the fact that the viewer is observing a film rather it plays into it to then elevate the story. The film isn’t just about shambling hordes; it’s a clever commentary wrapped in absurdism, all meticulously layered in to challenge modern approaches over the typical ‘zombie sub-genre’. Today we'll dissect specifically why this film approach differs by taking particular focus on that core aspect and will attempt to also understand how this specific film handles its themes. Most notably we shall explore the usage of the Sturgill Simpson song which acts both a recurring ‘gag’ but also with important hidden narrative purpose.
The movie almost deliberately announces it's narrative and philosophical framework at its beginning when Adam Driver's Officer Ronnie Peterson states directly that: "It's 'The Dead Don't Die,' by Sturgill Simpson. It's the theme song." The humor here arises because it breaks the wall, it isn't even subtle about doing that; it announces openly and completely to the viewers from start to finish that ‘You are in a film’ (with all the trappings and cliches), which becomes not a ‘detriment’ but another powerful storytelling element used within its overall core narrative design.
That’s not some simple 'wink’ at the audience either; this is more of a commitment towards an intentional approach to use those very mechanisms in service for the story line as that constant replaying of the title song further reinforces a message of: ‘ This show doesn't operate under same values’, and by creating that very familiar cycle where characters know (or at least are mostly self aware of being within that story ) the film also openly gives that message to every single person, where even the music itself is part of it. What’s even more interesting are character lines which further re-enforce those messages such as Mindy explicitly yelling her dislike, for it, highlighting that characters share a unique connection with audience members as both are feeling same annoyance and frustration, as that cycle of ‘ meta elements’ creates constant humor due to both sides understanding similar problems from ‘ within’ and ‘outside’ their own story.
Even further the dialogue by Driver's character on knowing "the script" also adds important dimensions as those types of interactions highlight some core details: That the movie doesn’t seek simply to entertain; It is fully prepared to both mock its very format as its a zombie story while also providing greater contextual knowledge with philosophical questions regarding current day’s life styles. By giving self aware meta concepts it makes clear to audience member: all details are deliberately set and presented with full purpose.
The decision to commission an original song for The Dead Don't Die further deepens the films intentions by blending fictional worlds with real artists, and more over its lyrics also add an additional unique perspective over what’s occurring. "Nobody bothers saying 'Hi', and you can save all your goodbyes/Stop trying to pretend that we're all not alone" ( these lyrics shown throughout the movie) are not solely a backdrop element of a show set piece rather the core conceptual point which pushes it beyond just zombie themed action set pieces.
The lyrics’s direct critique about a modern reliance over cellphones is also directly shown as its part of what causes the zombies to appear ( as a result of environment’s destruction) so that same criticism towards that level of human disconnect then extends to also reflect why everyone in film act like characters while facing their very specific personal and external struggles with those undead beings; It all serves one specific point: as a criticism that this type of isolation creates individuals so self-contained they’ll willingly not act with concern for anything external to their comfort bubble until some grave external event or danger does force an immediate intervention. By doing this 'The Dead Don't Die’ uses the film as its stage but never quite allows viewers to forget about the 'meta message' constantly put through and within.
While its core narrative may appear as just a standard B-rated action packed set of sequences, its usage as metaphors to create social criticism also elevate it as more than a basic parody and if at a casual level it presents itself to poke at those same standard horror-film archetypes; on closer viewing we notice it also tackles human overconsumption which, as core reasoning for creating those zombies, forces viewers to re-evaluate what is often ‘accepted’ or ‘normal’ through every day life in modern urban city set-ups. And by using characters aware of that, it is as if a viewer will question that directly alongside main movie cast.
Even as the show ends ( or does it?) by using song cues those will highlight important themes rather than any direct final message and this approach does what few (if not none) series or films are currently brave enough to take: by explicitly mocking a genre while maintaining all the components that made that genre a success to begin with. The series knows that some viewers won't quite care or appreciate deeper philosophical message and so also, for those it offers fun sequences with great characters all throughout for its runtime with a constant understanding: no part of the production feels generic or random or for any particular single type of audience, everything works to showcase deeper values to any level the audience members can reach. By doing this, its also not simply a zombie show but also something beyond a parody because it’s self aware about that same aspect.
"The Dead Don’t Die", does stand out as something intentionally unique for those seeking greater depth over media they choose because of all the points addressed above and therefore It’s meta approach provides greater creative flexibility to dissect themes beyond just plot. The result is a production that’s challenging; funny; and insightful but does more than mock an idea by actively using a self aware format, it uses those genre standards to explore (often overlooked) moral questions while pushing a viewer into exploring deeper perspectives on society's many core foundations while putting the core message also as part of narrative to then ask; how much of this is a performance that they themselves participate or just watch unfold?
What initially can appear just an over the top parody actually transforms in something very different the deeper a viewer looks at all its different aspects as a TV or media property with it unique blend that refuses to settle into what is ‘expected’ or to a type of defined established format; all with underlying self aware humorous style while never compromising it's deeply core held ethical philosophies, with or without zombies as the setting of choice. In short: this is media that has its own rules. Which it fully acknowledges, and that is where ‘Dead Don’t Die’ finds true magic.