The Daughter of George A. Romero Reimagines Her Father’s Zombie Legacy Through a Queer Lens, Blending Drag, Horror, and Heart

By Dolores Quintana

Tina Romero is ready to make her mark on the zombie apocalypse with her first feature film, Queens of the Dead. The film brings a new sensibility and lots of humor and heart to the subgenre and monster that her father, George Romero, created in 1968.

The film stars  Katy O’Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Tomas Matos, Nina West, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jack Haven, Cheyenne Jackson, Dominique Jackson, Margaret Cho, Riki Lindhome, Eve Lindley, Becca Blackwell, Shaunette Renée Wilson, and Julie J.

Queens of the Dead opens on October 24, just in time for Halloween, and you can get tickets here. 

In the interview, we talk about why she decided to make her first feature within the Romero Zombie Universe, why her film is more hopeful than bleak, and how shade is a love language.

Dolores Quintana:
Hi, Tina. I just wanted to talk to you about your new film. It’s so exciting!

Tina Romero:
It’s so exciting. I can’t believe it. I’m still pinching myself, honestly. It feels surreal.

Dolores Quintana:
Was this a film you’ve always wanted to make, something in The Living Dead universe, or did you decide to do it more recently?

Tina Romero:
Great question. I didn’t see myself getting into the genre unless I could figure out a way to do it that felt authentic to me — a world that I knew, a story I could tell.

I love zombies. I grew up with zombies. I have a deep affection for horror and the genre. I identify as a horror kid. But I’m also drawn to musicals and cheesy stuff.

After film school, I spent many years as a DJ in the queer nightlife scene, and there was this drama that happened between some promoters. Someone even posted a manifesto online asking, “When will the queer community stop devouring its own?” And in that moment, it hit me like a bolt of lightning — this is how I want to enter the genre. Through the lens of queer nightlife.

It’s a world I know and love, full of rich characters — creative, scrappy people who know how to make things work in a crisis. I got so excited about watching them go through the zombie apocalypse. It just felt like a no-brainer mashup — drag queens and zombies. How delicious, how fun, how yummy!

That was about seven or eight years ago. When the idea came to me, it was crystal clear — this was the perfect first feature for me. It was the perfect way to continue telling stories in my dad’s universe with the monster he created, but in a 2025 world, through a queer lens, a female perspective. That’s how I wanted to introduce myself as a filmmaker while also carrying my dad’s torch.

Dolores Quintana:
When I was watching the film, which I loved, it just felt like, “Wow, why hasn’t someone done this before?” The characters feel so authentic to the culture. It’s definitely a horror film, but it also has heart and a sweetness to it.

Tina Romero:
I wanted to make something more lighthearted than bleak, especially because it takes place in the queer community — and we have enough bleak stuff already. I wanted it to feel joyful and hopeful.

That’s why it’s not a “final girl” story. I didn’t want it to come down to one lone survivor. I wanted the queer community to stick together and most of them to make it out alive. Of course, we have to lose some along the way — but not all.

And honestly, I’m so grateful this film is coming out now. Sometimes indie films take years to see the light of day, but IFC and Shudder putting it out this year feels right. It feels important that, right now, we have a film that puts us unabashedly on screen in a way that’s celebratory and fun and joyful. It’s kind of the antidote to what’s happening in our government and in the world. It’s scary times for queer people, and I’m really happy this film celebrates us.

Dolores Quintana:
It really does. It’s scary, but it’s got that lightness and that heart. You can feel it with the characters — especially the queens. They tease each other, but it comes from a place of love.

Tina Romero:
Totally. Throwing shade is a form of love — it’s a love language! And I have to give so much credit to the cast. They nailed it.

We wanted the group to be all queer, with one straight guy from Staten Island who didn’t think he’d end up there on a Saturday night — but he’s ultimately happy he is. Having that full spectrum meant no one person had to carry the weight of “representing the entire community.” They could just bring their authentic selves.

Of course, the community isn’t without drama. We wanted to show that, too — the infighting, the love, the resilience. Sticking together through that is what helps us survive.

Dolores Quintana:
And you even slipped in some social commentary — like the zombies still looking at their phones!

Tina Romero:
Yes! Because I feel like that’s exactly what we’d all be doing. I walk around New York and it’s like, the streets are full of phone zombies. I’m one of them! It’s wild how much our phones have taken over our brains.

I wanted to keep all the classic Romero zombie rules — slow zombies, one bite turns you, destroy the brain — but add this twist that they still respond to their devices, even after death. I think my dad would’ve approved.

Dolores Quintana:
I also noticed that your zombies have fabulous skin!

Tina Romero:
(Laughs) Of course! If we’re doing queer nightlife zombies, they have to be fabulous. They can’t be butch zombies — they need glam! These are freshly dead people on a Saturday night in Bushwick. They’re going to have sequins, shimmer, maybe a fabulous wig.

Dolores Quintana:
That’s perfect. It’s so wonderful to talk to you, Tina. Congratulations on the film — I loved it.

Tina Romero:
Thank you! I really appreciate that. And I love that you’re a fellow horror kid.

Dolores Quintana:
I am! I watched Night of the Living Dead when I was way too young.

Tina Romero:
(Laughs) That’s amazing. Thank you so much!