Queens of the Dead

There is a new movie to add to the Queer horror genre, enjoyable during the Halloween season or, for us spooky Queers, on a Tuesday night in with friends, family, or alone. Last October, Tina Romero released Queens of the Dead, a movie with some laughs, a few tears, and a ton of glitter. The cast includes diverse and famous names, such as: Jaquel Spivey, an actor worth keep your eyes on because he’s destined to become a household name over the next few years; legendary 90s Queer icon Margaret Cho; Pose-famed actress Dominique Jackson; and Mandalorian’s Katy O’Brian, rounding out the cast that battles against the living dead at a warehouse drag party.

Queens of the Dead is not Tina Romero’s first brush with the living dead. She starred in 2005's long-awaited Land of the Dead, directed by George A. Romero, known as the Godfather of the Modern Zombie, and a legend not only in the film industry. The man brought us the most iconic horror movies of all time, such as 1968’s Night of the Living Dead, 1978’s Dawn of the Dead, and 1985’s Day of the Dead. His television show, The Walking Dead, dominated television in the 2010s, and its expanded universe is still going strong today. But Tina Romero knew him best as ‘dad’, and her debut follows in his terrifying footsteps. She created, in my humble opinion, not only a tribute to her late father’s work but also a love letter to the genre that her father helped create.

To understand the tone of this film imagine the hit 2004 horror-comedy Shaun of the Dead married to a typical Friday night at Providence’s very own Dark Lady. Like her father, Tina directs the cast as if they are people you could meet at the Dark Lady on some random Friday night or see walking down Washington Street. In my opinion, the cast is true to life, with hints of exaggeration to emphasize the comedic tone of the movie. After some time sitting on this movie, I can safely say that her father would be proud of her for what she created. As a lifelong fan of the genre (and of her father’s work), I can say that this movie is worth a watch. You can find it on AMC+ and Shudder streaming services, and for rent or purchase on Fandango At Home, Amazon Prime Video, as well as other similar streaming platforms. It is also available to rent On-Demand (though you will need to check with your cable provider).