Set in a small American town, Centreville, Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die follows a zombie apocalypse. Widely known for his leisurely-paced dramas, this 2019 film shows Jarmusch trading the waters of the horror genre. It shows his unorthodox storytelling approach being applied to a popular movie subset.
He brings his frequent collaborators like Billy Murray, Steve Buscemi, and Tilda Swinton back into this deadpan comedy formula. Besides them, the cast also includes musical stars like Tom Waits, RZA, and Selena Gomez.
The Dead Don't Die uses the all-encompassing apocalypse to dig deeper into the metaphors of survival in the darkest times.
As the Centreville residents start dying across the town, they react differently to this strange scenario. Regardless, they all have something in common. The film's ending sheds light on the same. It shows all the residents, except Hermit Bob and Zelda, dying from this tragic situation.
The Dead Don't Die ending explained: How do the Centreville residents face the apocalypse?
The Dead Don't Die follows two rural police officers, Cliff (Bill Murray) and Ronnie (Adam Driver), as they notice the presence of zombies in their town. Ronnie repeatedly points out his belief that the 'end is near.'
Still, instead of taking any firm action, he and Cliff nonchalantly visit the crime scenes where the zombies massacre the residents. As this happens, Zelda (Tilda Swinton), a Scottish resident, moves into their town and buys a funeral home. She is a skilled swordsperson who is eccentric and well-prepared for self-defense against an apocalypse.
Three young travelers, Zoe (Selena Gomez), Jack (Austin Butler), and Zack (Luka Sabbat), arrive in this town. They cross paths with Bobby (Caleb Landry Jones), who impresses Zoe with his knowledge of cinema. All these youngsters learn about the apocalypse. However, instead of addressing the graveness of this situation, they spend their time in their routine entertainment.
Local Farmer Frank (Steve Buscemi) holds on to his conservative values. He thinks the social outsiders are behind the apocalypse. Hardware store owner Hank (Danny Glover), whom Frank looks down upon, does not talk back. While Frank selfishly prepares to battle for himself, Hank remains dejected and unprepared against the calamity.
Meanwhile, the teenage juvenile detention center members discuss the reason behind the apocalypse. However, they cannot do anything against the will of their warden, who does not let them catch a breath. So, despite their brains, they cannot take any concrete action. In the end, none of them survive the apocalypse.
What caused a zombie apocalypse in Centreville?
The Zombie apocalypse in rural Centreville is a result of 'polar fracking,' a geographical phenomenon that shifts the Earth's axis. It leads the Zombies to emerge from the dead and kill the human residents. While that is technically the reason, there is more than what meets the eye.
The characters occasionally point out and acknowledge that they are in a movie. This 'meta' aspect makes the film about the characters' knowledge of the situation or the lack thereof. So, the characters end up dead due to their lack of understanding about the world they are living in and their lack of preparedness against dire circumstances.
How do Hermit Bob and Zelda survive the zombie apocalypse?
The ending of The Dead Don't Die shows only Hermit Bob (Tom Waits) and Zelda from Centreville surviving the zombie apocalypse. The reason other residents die is their passive outlook toward the situation.
Frank behaves like a know-it-all individual about politics, whereas Bobby boasts of his understanding of the fictional world of cinema. Still, neither of them can apply their knowledge to action when they need to.
The cops and the visitors take matters lightly and stay busy in their usual pastimes. They listen to the music that pleases them or ramble about inconsequential things.
Unlike them, Hermit Bob and Zelda have a better understanding of their messy situation. Hermit Bob continually observes the scenarios unfolding in their town and warns the cops about it. Zelda practices her fighting skills and remains unfazed by the public perception of her eccentricity.
So, in the film's last moments, she levitates as an alien spaceship appears out of nowhere in the town and becomes the only survivor besides Bob.
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