Queens of the Dead

When your last name is Romero, the associations write themselves. And if your father happens to be George A., the man behind Night of the Living Dead (and, really, the entire zombie genre), your cinematic path seems all but predestined.

Tina Romero’s feature debut is both a loving tribute to her father’s legacy and a blast of fresh (and slightly glittery) air into a slightly undead genre. Set in New York City, Queens of the Dead follows a group of drag performers preparing for a major show, when a hungry zombie outbreak crashes the party.

Unlike the weighty political allegories of George A. Romero’s work, Queens of the Dead doesn’t aim for heavy-handed commentary, and it doesn’t need to. Instead, it’s a playful, horror-tinged comedy with sequined zombies, a glammed-up apocalypse, and dance moves that are just as crucial as survival skills.

Grzegorz Fortuna [Octopus Film Festival]