George A. Romero’s Daughter Gives Zombies a Queer, Glittering Makeover in Debut Film

Tina Romero, daughter of George A. Romero, has directed her debut feature, Queens of the Dead, a queer horror-comedy set in Bushwick that opens in theaters on Oct. 24. The film includes performances from drag artist Julie Jay and leans into queer nightlife as its central setting, while also referencing the Romero zombie legacy.

1. What the film is
2. Visual style and cast
3. Themes and inspiration
4. Romero on legacy and approach
5. Release and credits

What the film is

Queens of the Dead is Tina Romero’s first film as director. It is described as a queer horror-comedy that uses the setting of New York City nightlife to tell a zombie story. The film opens in theaters on Oct. 24.

Visual style and cast

One of the early lines in the film is delivered by actor and drag queen Julie Jay, who says, “This isn’t a George Romero movie!” during a scene in a deserted church. Shortly after, a zombified priest attacks her in that scene.

Visually, Tina Romero’s zombies differ from the classic look associated with her father. Whereas George A. Romero’s zombies are often described as pale, grey, shuffling, and menacing, Queens of the Dead features zombies dressed in nightlife fashion with a glittery sheen. The production has noted a limited budget affecting certain effects, such as eye appearance, which appear more human in places.

Themes and inspiration

The film uses queer nightlife as the primary lens for its zombie story. Tina Romero has said the concept began with a line she saw from a promoter: ‘When will the queer community stop devouring its own?’ She described that line as the spark for the film’s focus on intra-community conflict.

Romero also referenced her own time in New York City nightlife working as a DJ as informing the film’s setting and tone. She said, “The idea came to me in a burst, in a bolt of lightning,” Romero said. “I spent many years in the queer nightlife scene of New York City as a DJ, and there was a promoter riff where one promoter posted online, ‘When will the queer community stop devouring its own?’ And that’s the spark of the idea. When I read that phrase, I knew I wanted to use queer nightlife as a lens into the zombie apocalypse.”

Romero on legacy and approach

Tina Romero has acknowledged her father’s influence and stated she wanted to both honor his work and differentiate her film. She said, “[That line] felt important to me, because I knew this was in some ways a risk, to jump into this sandbox that he created. I feel very proud and responsible to carry on the Romero zombie into 2025. And I wanted to hang onto his rules and his monster and the spirit of him as much as possible.”

She also commented on aesthetic and tonal differences, saying, “We are so different aesthetically. I’m a little bit more of an optimist. So I really wanted to introduce myself as a filmmaker and call out the fact that this is not a George Romero movie,” and, “I really do feel like this is a movie he would never make. I was happy to do a zombie film, but I didn’t want to do it unless I could do it in a way that felt Tina. There’s dance, there’s music, there’s costumes, and all these things speak to me as a filmmaker, while also getting to hook people with zombies.”

On balancing legacy and personal voice, Romero summarized: “I do feel like his spirit is in the film. So it’s both.” Romero concludes. “It is a Romero movie, but it’s not a George Romero movie.”

Release and credits

Queens of the Dead debuts in theaters on Oct. 24. Production and image credits associated with promotional material include IFC and photographer Shannon Madden.