Films made by children of beloved filmmakers can run the gamut in quality and style. From critical failures like Ishana Shyamalan’s The Watchers or Oscar darlings like Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, it is almost impossible to tell how well films from nepo babies will turn out. Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead is the latest debut from a child of an iconic filmmaker —in this case, horror director George A. Romero. Seeing Tina Romero take on the horror subgenre that cemented her father as an all-time horror director could lead to deadly consequences if it turned out poorly, but luckily, her film takes a unique spin on the zombie flick, making for an entertaining experience from start to finish.

Queens of the Dead follows a group of drag queens and club workers who become stuck in the middle of a zombie outbreak in Brooklyn. Trapped in their drag club, the performers are forced to work together to fight the zombies and reach a boat that will take them to safety. 

The film beautifully sets its tone and style in the first sequence. Seeing a random Brooklyn drag queen meet at a church to hook up with a queer pastor immediately conveys the movie’s subversive nature and satirical tone. Oozing with neon colors in every frame, whether from the drag queens’ outfits or the club’s vivid lighting, the visuals and set design capture the film’s quirkiness to the max. While most zombie films have a dirty, colorless look, Queens of the Dead’s vibrant palette makes for a playful, eye-pleasing experience through and through.

Katy O’Brien has proven to be a ferocious on–screen presence in films like Love Lies Bleeding, and that carries over into her role as the DJ at the drag club. All of the drag queens deliver excellent comedic performances, with Tomas Matos in particular giving the liveliest performance as the selfish, drug-addicted drag queen, Nico. Jaquel Spivey’s character, Sam, not only receives the most development but also delivers the best performance as a nurse who is unable to return to their life as a drag queen. Spivey is given just as many funny lines as the rest of the cast, but watching their emotional journey unfold throughout the film was a joy, especially in the film’s final moment involving a Ke$ha needledrop. 

With her debut feature, Tina Romero shows a strong voice in filmmaking. Her attention to detail in her blocking and her ability to balance horror and comedy are more substantial than in most directorial debuts. Not only does she bring an original perspective to the zombie flick, but she also retains her father’s signature social commentary within the horror genre, specifically in this film’s exploration of accepting one’s identity. While it may not be the deepest depiction of self-love and identity, seeing it included in a zombie film is wildly refreshing compared to other films in the genre.

Although there are themes of family and acceptance that are easy to gravitate toward, Queens of the Dead doesn’t do nearly enough with them as it should. The film puts way more emphasis on giving the audience a good time than on rich texture. Given how revolutionary her father’s work on Night of the Living Dead and his depiction of racism and prejudice in his films were, seeing such a surface-level approach in her movie was highly disappointing.

Queens of the Dead has some stellar production and costume designs, but there were times when the budget felt like it was holding the film back from reaching higher heights. The film takes place almost entirely in a small drag queen club, failing to build a sense of scale through its sets. Whenever scenes took place outside of the club, the film looked like it was filmed on a Disney Channel studio lot. This aspect of the film cheapened many sequences and removed nearly all tension from the horror.

While Queens of the Dead is far from a new zombie classic, its strong sense of humor and compelling-enough filmmaking made for an overall enjoyable experience. Tina Romero successfully recaptures the essence of what made her father an incredible filmmaker while developing her own signature style that will likely be perfected in future projects. Showing strong potential in her debut film, Tina Romero could become the new queen of horror.

Queens of the Dead will be in theaters nationwide on October 24.

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