31 Days of Halloween 2019: The Dead Don't Die

[Once again I'm going to attempt to do a horror(ish) movie review a day for the entire month of October. I've done this the last few years on The Cleveland Movie Blog. Most of the time I succeeded. Other times I didn't. We'll see if I can pull it off this year.] 

Review by Bob Ignizio

It’s too slow. That’s the common refrain I keep hearing from those who don’t enjoy the new Jim Jarmusch zombie film THE DEAD DON’T DIE. And yes, the film is as slow moving as a classic Romero zombie. It also has an extremely deadpan sense of humor, a tendency to go off on pointless tangents, and a sense of self awareness that is sure to grate on many viewers. So if you go into this movie hoping for anything close to a typical undead romp, there’s a high probability you will be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you’re a fan of Jarmusch’s quirky sensibilities, or are in general open to unusual, idiosyncratic cinema, this may be just the thing for your Halloween viewing pleasure.

'Lizzie' Gives 'Em The Axe: (movie review)

[LIZZIE opens in Cleveland on Friday September 21^st at the Cedar Lee Theater.]

On August 4^th, 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, were murdered in their home by an assailant using a hatchet. Andrew’s daughter Lizzie was put on trial for the murders but ultimately acquitted. No other suspects were ever charged. It was, at the time, the “crime of the century”. Beyond those basic facts, however, there is considerable room for speculation. And speculate director Craig William Macneil and writer Bryce Kass do in the new film LIZZIE.

In setting its stage, LIZZIE depicts Andrew Borden (Jamey Sheridan) as a cold, psychologically abusive father to his daughters Lizzie (Chloe Sevigny) and Emma (Kim Dickens), both of whom he views as past their prime marrying age and something of a burden. Emma tries to stay under the radar, but Lizzie engages in small acts of defiance, like going out on the town in the evening unchaperoned.