Queens of the Dead had its Los Angeles premiere at BeyondFest at American Cinematheque on Sunday. The film marks the directorial feature debut of Tina Romero, daughter of George A. Romero. The elder Romero was a legendary filmmaker known for helming zombie movies. Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead are all iconic entries to the genre. Tina Romero had some big shoes to fill, and she took her father’s legacy and added a special twist: queer joy.

Drag Queens VS. Zombies

Shudder

Romero co-wrote Queens of the Dead with comedian Erin Judge, and the result is both hilarious and sweet. When zombies begin to take over New York, a nightclub filled with drag queens and queer employees becomes a target for the undead. The film stars Jaaquel Spivey (Mean Girls), Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), Jack Haven (I Saw The TV Glow), Nina West (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Riki Lindhome (Knives Out), Dominique Jackson (Pose), Margaret Cho (Drop Dead Diva), and more. Except for Quincy Dunn-Baker (No Hard Feelings) as Barry, every character in the film is a member of the queer community.

What a delight to watch a horror movie that turns an old trope on its head. Instead of the token gay character or token person of color, Queens of the Dead gives audiences a “token straight man.” It’s spectacular to see all of the letters in LBGTQ+ represented in a genre that has been known to bury its gays.

Everyone in the film shines. By the time the story hits its emotional peak, you realize you’ve become attached to each character along the way. There are more laughs than scares, but we could all use a little comedy in our lives. That is especially true for the queer community. Haven is particularly entertaining as Kelsey, the Gen Z intern who sings what will surely be the newest spooky season bop. Tomas Matos (Fire Island) also delivers as an angsty new performer/drug dealer who doesn’t feel accepted by their peers.

The Romero Legacy

Shudder

Queens of the Dead also features some excellent nods to George Romero’s films. His longtime collaborator, Tom Savini, makes a hysterical cameo in the movie. As for the zombies, they have a green tint, which is how the creatures were styled in the original Romero films. However, these zombies have a more glamorous edge. Due to the film’s Brooklyn setting, everyone is dressed for a night out at the club, and even the most grotesque zombies have a glittery, fabulous vibe.

If you’re a queer horror fan, Queens of the Dead is a must-see. While the film will eventually hit Shudder, we recommend checking it out with a crowd when it hits theatres on October 24th. It’s funny, charming, and keeps the Romero spirit alive. In a time when the queer community’s rights are being put in jeopardy, films like Queens of the Dead are more important than ever. It showcases people expressing themselves fiercely and unapologetically, and illustrates the importance of found family.

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