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For decades, there’s been no shortage of zombie media, and it’s safe to say that the subgenre will never go out of style. And while many will moan about unoriginality and oversaturation, plenty of zombie-centric movies and TV shows have proven there’s more than one way to tell an apocalyptic tale of flesh-eating corpses. 

At this year’s Tribeca Festival, Tina Romero, daughter of horror legend George A. Romero, makes her feature directorial debut with Queens of the Dead, which she co-wrote with writer-comedian Erin Judge (Quiet Desperation). The filmmaker and former DJ pays homage to her late father while making a name for herself with “a big gay zombie movie.” 

Set in Brooklyn, Sam (Jaquel Spivey) shimmies his way around a hospital delivering jello cups to patients and colleagues, the kind of nurse who puts a smile on everyone’s face, trying to distract them from whatever pain they’re experiencing. Sam’s night takes a turn when he’s asked to resurrect his drag persona as a last-minute dance party replacement. It’s hinted that the last time he performed was a disaster.

For party organizer Dre (Katy O’Brian), this day/night is endlessly stressful, presenting one issue after another. Drag performers Ginsey (Nina West) and Nico (Tomás Matos) are being catty, Dre’s conservative brother-in-law Barry (Quincy Dunn-Baker) says all the wrong things while unclogging a toilet, drag queen Yasmine (Dominique Jackson) drops out for another gig, and there’s some past beef between Dre and Sam. But none of that compares to the unknown horrors that lie ahead. 

Amidst the party planning chaos is a zombie outbreak gradually making its way to the warehouse, forcing Dre and the queens to hunker down with Barry, Jimmy the bartender/owner (Cheyenne Jackson), Kelsey the intern (Jack Haven), and other surprise visitors. Meanwhile, Dre’s wife Lizzy (Riki Lindhome), a nurse who works with Sam, and a trans patient named Jane (Eve Lindley) escape the hospital now overrun with the undead and try to find their way to the others. 

Queens of the Dead is very character-driven, and no matter the amount of screen time, just about all of them leave a lasting impression. Drag artist Julie J, credited as “Zombiequeen,” opens the film as the first queen we see get bitten. In those first 5–10 minutes, the character serves up laughs while visiting a church rocking a devastatingly gorgeous outfit in head-to-toe sparkles. It’s a brief moment of realism (yes, queens pray, too!) that quickly descends into campy horror, a perfect way to set the genre-bending tone. 

Speaking of the fabulous wardrobe, costume designer David Tabbert (Fire Island, Werewolves Within) dresses the characters in an array of eye-catching fits, particularly the performers’ stage looks. Tabbert’s work really shines in a third-act makeover montage that results in a series of Beyonce meets Mad Max DIY battle gear. And in true Romero fashion, the slow-moving zombies aren’t especially gory. The special effects makeup by artist Lindsay Gelfand (Fallout) has more of a subtle B-movie look but is highlighted with a dance party shine, complementing the glam party looks from the makeup department led by Christina Grant (Smile).

As all zombie stories do, Queens has social commentary, touching on everything from the gig economy struggle to drug addiction to LGBTQIA+ discrimination in the healthcare industry. The ensemble cast expertly delivers those dark, emotional moments that come with a zombie apocalypse, like fearing for their lives, the tragedy of losing loved ones, and repairing relationships in the face of death. Props to Jaquel Spivey and Nina West for the especially touching kinship between Sam and drag mom Ginsey. There’s an overall theme of self-love, acceptance, empowerment, and the importance of coming together as a community. The zombies distracted by their phones and social media is a nice satirical touch that recalls Dawn of the Dead’s critique of mindless consumerism.

Even with those sobering topics, the majority of Queens is a high-energy blast that’ll have audiences dancing in their seats to the synth-y sounds of Blitz//Berlin (SYFY’s Day of the Dead). Horror fans won’t consider the film scary, or even that gory. Romero told the New York Times she opted for a “delicious candy-colored world” over “ripped-out chest cavities.” But anyone who goes in expecting to be entertained won’t be disappointed. The humor may outweigh the terror, but there’s still tension and high stakes, increased by the complex bonds between chosen family and frenemies. 

Tina Romero’s Queens of the Dead is a hilarious glam-gore zombie flick that celebrates the colorful, expressive world of drag with a talented ensemble cast made up of both established and rising stars who know how to balance emotion and campiness. The horror-comedy is a guaranteed future cult classic, boasting major rewatchability and a loud and proud debut from a master of horror in the making. 

Queens of the Dead had its world premiere June 7 at the 2025 Tribeca Festival.

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