Dead Don't Die in Dallas

I bought this on DVD at the Dollar Tree, as I often do to find obscure films. Upon placing it in my cart, my husband asked, "is that a drag queen? I think she was on Drag Race a long time ago" to which I said "I hope so, because that would be weird and interesting." Sure enough, it's a low-budget zombie film with a drag queen main character, alongside a broader cast of mostly queer folk. This movie doesn't take itself seriously for the most part, but abruptly whips out some shockingly competent scenes on occasion. Some shots look like a YouTube sketch from 2007, while others have professional lighting, VFX, and camera work. It's not just the cast that's diverse, but the style itself, which creates an unexpectedly compelling experience. I never knew what to expect from each scene, as underwhelming moments led to scenes that had me asking "how the hell did they do that without a budget?"

This movie was shot in 2013 on a budget of $7,200 after garnering just $500 on a failed IndieGogo campaign. As someone that's worked on a few low budget productions, I have nothing but admiration for the ingenuity necessary to make something of this "quality" on such an impossible budget. It took an infusion of $150,000 from IFC films to complete the post-production, and I bet that's also why the film has a rich soundtrack, albeit a forgettable one. Unfortunately, all the post production in the world can't fix a lack of budget during filming. The middle of the film is straight up missing, with a cut to black and text stating "Missing Reel." As the film resumed, I found myself growing confused about some plot elements. I'm sure they simply didn't have the budget in 2013 to film some necessary scenes, but with the IFC films partnership I feel they could've at least shown some narrated story boards or something. Also, there's definitely a stylistic clash between the editing and the movie itself. There's a pretty terrible 8mm film grain overlay across the entire movie, but the cinematography isn't trying to look like found footage or retro at all. In many places, the cinematography is actually trying extremely hard to look professional. Perhaps they could've saved this with better editing choices, or at least a believable film simulation. Hell, it might've worked better if they just copied it to a Video8 or DVCAM tape and back again.

Unfortunately, the final act is quite sloppy for various reasons. There's a bunch of location changes, and in some scenes the navigation of characters gets very confusing. Simultaneously, the final act also demonstrates some of the best cinematography and production value in the entire movie. The biggest flaw is definitely how the ending involves several characters screaming the t-slur, reminding the audience this was written in 2010-2012 and filmed in 2013.

Nonetheless, despite all it's glaring flaws, this movie is so memorable, which can't be said for a lot of it's contemporaries. This belongs in queer cinema lists for sure. I wish they had the funding for a blu-ray release, but the bare-bones DVD copy is decent as far as budget DVD's go.

This may very well be the worst zombie movie I've ever sat through (and that's saying a lot). Probably not for the reasons you're thinking (Poorly directed, badly acted, lapses in logic? Nope). The biggest problem with The Dead Don't Die in Dallas is the fact that it's ALL social commentary. The zombie apocalypse is just a backdrop to being ceaselessly hit over the head with an agenda. News flash: There is such a thing as subtle social commentary. Having it constantly in your face does not make for an entertaining movie. I have one piece of advice for this young (just a wild guess) filmmaker: Go back and watch George Romero's zombie flicks.

The preacher is insufferable. The resolution? One person he was offending just kills him. This seemed really wrong, especially when a movie such as this wants to convey a message.

Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, I checked the time. I still had ONE HOUR left of this movie! It is brutal to get through. Alright, if I'm going to pick it apart any further, the gore is no good. The blood is like red water thoughout this film. Any idiot who has watched a behind-the-scenes extra knows that you use Karo syrup. That's like makeup FX 101.

For some unknown reason, these filmmakers have stolen all the "grindhouse" homages, INCLUDING "missing reel!" It's been done. And they couldn't even get the nudity right! Now that was pathetic. Check it out for yourself, if you can make it that far.

Maybe if you're transitioning, you happen to like bad zombie movies, AND you like your messages poured on REAL thick, you MIGHT enjoy this?

It was so stupid and excessive and relied on gags, guns, and gore, exactly as a campy monster flick should be. I had more fun than I expected to, even expecting the dumb fun sort of movie.

I have concluded William Belli looks amazing in short shorts, and carried the movie as Beth-Ann. Beth-Ann's snarky remarks and closing shot (heh) were hilariously perfect. So much attitude.

I enjoyed the very obvious satire of the antivaxx stuff. It was an irreverent "screw you" to a lot of people who deserve it and a fabulous break from serious zombie flicks with a deep message about the meaning of life.

It's not a serious movie and isn't supposed to be. If you want it to be, try a different movie.

Awful acting, awful effects, awful scenario, in a reverse world this would be a masterpiece!!!

And funny. This is a camp B-Movie that actually works pretty well. Yes, as some other obvious phobes have stated in their obvious hit piece "reviews" which are actually just statements of their own prejudices. There is a few preachy political moments, but they quickly pass and MOST of the movie is just a straight up (No pun intended) Camp Zombie Flick that made me laugh when it was suppose to, and look away at the pretty well done gore most of the time, and the story was all together funny. It's basically what you'd expect when a group of drag queens and normal "Don't care" persons end up having to group up with and or interact with a far right preacher amid a zombie apocalypse as seen from a very small town perspective.

The premise is simple, the world is celebrating the invention of a super vax medication in the form of a miracle pill that makes humans immune to any and all bacterial/viral infections...including everything from the Flu to STDS and everything in between, which as you'd expect doesn't go well and here comes the zombies. The dialog made me laugh out loud quite often (intentionally which is the key) and overall does what it is suppose to. L I was actually surprised at the acceptable level of effects, acting, kills and overall humorous outcome, and the ending was quite satisfying to me personally...lol It's certainly better than many other movies with higher scores and does it's job in a pretty respectable way. If you enjoy or CAN enjoy B or intentional Campy movies this may surprise you and was full of a quite a few zingers and funny situations. IF you however are a seriously prejudiced, right winger or ill person regarding anything other than far right wing politics you probably will not appreciate this movie in any respect, much less be able to judge the movie as a movie.