The Dead Don't Die

In small-town Centerville, police chief Cliff (Bill Murray) and deputies Ronnie (Adam Driver) and Mindy (Chloe Sevigny) face petty crimes, such as the alleged theft by survivalist Hermit Bob (Tom Waits) of ornery Farmer Miller’s (Steve Buscemi) chickens. But when polar fracking sends the earth off its axis, strange things begin to happen, culminating with the dead returning to life. Now facing a zombie epidemic, Centerville must rely on its overmatched police force, a film-loving gas station owner (Caleb Landry Jones), a well-provisioned hardware store owner (Danny Glover), and a bizarre, sword-wielding Scottish mortician (Tilda Swinton).

Though The Dead Don’t Die is the first wide theatrical release of writer/director Jim Jarmusch’s nearly four-decade career, it is no mainstream affair. Outrageous characters, lackadaisical pacing, dark humor work to preserve Jarmusch’s idiosyncratic style, and those who have grown to appreciate it will find plenty to like here. On the other hand, the uninitiated may find themselves wondering what the hell they just watched.

As mentioned, The Dead Don’t Die is not a tightly plotted film. It takes its time establishing characters and setting, the aesthetics never fully reinforce the danger that the story suggests, and it all builds to an abrupt conclusion many will find unsatisfying. It’s central conceit (polar fracking = purple moon and zombies) is ludicrous even by the standards of the genre, and its criticism of consumer culture – the zombies cry out for coffee and wifi rather than brains – is laughably (in both senses of the word) heavy-handed. One is better off viewing this as a parody of clumsy speculative message movies than such a movie in its own right.

Of course, there is an all-too-easy antidote to the film’s various lapses and transgressions: don’t take it too seriously. Freed from expectations, The Dead Don’t Die is a lot of fun. Murray is in peak deadpan form for most of the film until exasperation overtakes him at the end, and he is matched, underreaction for underreaction, by Driver. Swinton showcases her immense versatility by playing her insane (Zelda was practicing her swordplay before any inkling of zombies) role with gusto. Not only are there fine performances, but there are also recurring jokes (zombie victims are repeatedly speculated to be the results of predation by one or more wild animals by each party to discover them), visual gags (6’2” Driver speeds to the scene of a crime in small smart car, and amusing allusions (RZA plays a deliveryman for “WuPS.” Then there’s the oft-played (and, in-universe, oft-debated) title song by country crooner Sturgill Simpson. Love it or hate it, its presence is the glue that holds this film together.

Despite its higher-than-usual profile and very recognizable cast, The Dead Don’t Die is hardly Jarmusch’s opus, and those unaccustomed to his quirks will find it all the more trying. But for anyone inclined to forgive its meandering and goofiness, it’s a genuinely funny zombie comedy that is worth watching for the cast alone.

Pancho Villas

Located at 206 West Fairfield Road in High Point (with a sister location in Winston-Salem), Pancho Villas offers Mexican cuisine for lunch and dinner seven days a week. There is a full bar and food and drink specials change daily.

Pancho Villas is one of many Mexican restaurants to call High Point home, but its size and menu offerings help it stand out from the pack. The fact that it was moderately crowded a little past two on a Sunday afternoon speaks to its value and general competence as much as it does to its popularity.

“Big” seems to define Pancho Villas in several regards. There is plenty of parking, plenty of seating, and plenty to choose from on the menu. These offerings include the usual suspects (tacos, burritos, fajitas, etc.) as well as a few dishes I’ve yet to see elsewhere. Elote (street corn) is offered here in breaded bite form, and the menu also boasts of red snapper with diablo sauce and fried Cornish hen. From light to heavy, mild to spicy, and vegetarian to omnivorous, there seems to be something for everyone here.

The “somethings” I had occasion to try for my first visit were the aforementioned elote bites and a monster chile verde wet burrito. The former were amazing: crunch on the outside and cheesy on the inside with just a hint of sweetness. The burrito was appreciably substantial and appropriately slathered (in lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and guac). The pork inside was cut in smaller pieces than typical for this dish, but it was no less flavorful. Nothing on the plate struck a false note.

For the amount of food, Pancho Villas’ pricing is more than fair. My burrito (which easily yielded leftovers) came in at $9 while the elote bites (app-sized for two) were $7. As mentioned, it was fairly busy during the visit (and therefore a but loud), but service was up to the task.

Pancho Villas is not the best Mexican restaurant I’ve encountered nor is it the most convenient, but it is a tasty, wallet-friendly option worth going out of the way for should specific cravings (a.k.a. elote bites) hit.

Small Batch

Located at 2758 Eastchester Drive in High Point, Small Batch offers burgers, milkshakes, and drinks. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Burgers are discounted on Thursdays, a brunch is available on weekends, and there are occasional live music and trivia nights.

High Point does not have the same glut of burger bars as does neighboring Greensboro, and thus Small Batch (recently renamed/rebranded from Burger Batch, presumably to promote the Winston-Salem brewery’s ownership) helps to occupy that niche. It does so adequately albeit with definite room for improvement.

Perhaps fittingly, Small Batch is not a very large space. Our group of four thankfully did not have any trouble finding a table, and the casual environment was comfortable. Other reviewers have noted that it gets to be quite loud in here, and that very well may be the case when the restaurant is at capacity.

Burgers are the featured attraction here, and they can be custom built or chosen from among nine pre-fab offerings. Sandwiches, salads, apps, and a few entrees round out the rest of the menu. In addition to the requisite nachos and wings, apps include a bevy of fried vegetables (zucchini chips, Korean BBQ cauliflower) while the entrée selection works in a glazed grilled salmon and chicken and waffles. It’s a compact menu but hardly an unappealing one, especially when the decadent shake selection is factored in.

Our group settled on two burgers (the Perfect Batch with mushrooms, bacon, pepperjack, cheddar, and BBQ ranch and the Smoke Batch with cheddar, BBQ sauce, bacon, pork belly, and grilled jalapenos) each with fries, a Free Bird salad (chicken, greens, tomato, avocado, eggs, and scallions), and a grilled salmon, followed by Black & White (Oreo with chocolate chip cookie, vanilla icing, and chocolate sauce) and S’Mores (chocolate, graham cracker, marshmallow, cocoa puffs, and chocolate chips) shakes. The fries – crispy and very well-seasoned – were a hit, and the salmon received favorable remarks as well. While the burgers were enjoyable, the toppings eclipsed the meat, and my wife reported a lack of char flavor. Both shakes were deliciously sweet and, as expected, not easy to consume neatly.

While the food offered was solid, Small Batch is a poor value. The burgers are $12.49, fries included. Other sides are an upcharge. By way of comparison, Porter House charges less ($9.95-$11.95) for more (more toppings, more side options, possibly bigger patties). And for as delicious as the shakes were, $9 each borders on absurd.

Service was attentive throughout the meal, but when it came time to settle up, our server tried to upcharge my friend for the chicken that the menu clearly indicated was a part of his chicken salad. Fortunately, management swiftly and apologetically remedied this, and there were no other issues.

Small Batch is good enough to avoid ruling out entirely, but it is also too costly and too limited to make it High Point’s best burger option.

Viva Chicken

Located at 4520 West Wendover Avenue in the Wendover Commons shopping center in Greensboro, Viva Chicken offers Peruvian cuisine in a fast casual environment. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Outdoor seating, online ordering, and takeout catering are available.

As one of the few Peruvian restaurants in the area, Viva Chicken was likely to attract some buzz no matter its quality. Fortunately, the Greensboro location of this (mostly) North Carolina-based chain offers more than just novelty.

Viva Chicken does brisk business, but lines tend to move quickly. Order at the counter, take a number, and look for a table. There appears to be enough seating to keep up with customer demand, and the counter staff are friendly, efficient, and definitely up to the task.

As the name suggests, chicken is the specialty here, specifically, pollo a la brasa (Peruvian rotisserie chicken), which is sold in varying portions (1/4, ½, or a whole chicken) with sides. For those who want to partake but don’t want to commit to that much bird, chicken can also be added to sandwiches (wraps) and salads. Viva also offers a few Peruvian favorites such as arroz chaufa (fried rice) and saltado (steak with tomatoes and onions) as well as desserts (churros and tres leches) and beverages (herbal lemonade, fruit drinks, and Inca Kola).

For our first visit, my wife and I opted for a limena chopped salad (lima beans, kale, romaine, corn, edamame, bacon, chickpeas, queso fresco, and ranch) with an herbal lemonade (lemon, lime, rosemary, and mint) and a naked Peruvian wrap (quinoa, avocado, feta, lettuce, tomato, cucumber) with a side of plantains and a maracuya (passion fruit punch). We added chicken to both dishes, and we didn’t have a long wait to receive our food.

Though my side was a small portion, my wrap itself was plenty filling and delicious. The vegetables tasted fresh, and the chicken was as good as expected. A dash of one of the available salsas made it even more flavorful. My wife enjoyed her salad (especially the large-kernel corn) and found the herbal lemonade to be quite refreshing.

Viva isn’t cheap for fast casual – our lunch came out to over $25 – but the quality of the ingredients makes it a worthwhile expenditure. Those who’ve frequented Peruvian eateries may quibble about its authenticity, but for the likes of Greensboro, Viva Chicken is far more fair than foul.