In the quaint town of Centreville, two police officers, Chief Cliff Robertson and Officer Ronnie Petersen, respond to a peculiar call regarding a stolen chicken. The chicken was reported missing by Farmer Frank Miller, who suspects that Hermit Bob might be the culprit. When the officers confront Hermit Bob in his secluded forest dwelling, a warning shot is fired, signaling their retreat. As they drive away, Cliff reassures Ronnie of Bob's character, reflecting on their long-standing acquaintance and expressing doubt over Bob's involvement in the theft. Their conversation takes a surreal turn when they ponder the unusual brightness of the sky, even though it’s well past nightfall. Adding to the strange atmosphere, Officer Mindy Morrison (Chloë Sevigny) back at the precinct is unable to reach them over the radio, and both Ronnie's phone and watch inexplicably lose power. Forebodingly, Ronnie states, "this isn't going to end well," a sentiment he echoes throughout the film.
Meanwhile, in a local diner, Hank Thompson, Farmer Frank, and a waitress named Fern listen to a radio segment discussing the controversial issue of polar fracking. They express skepticism about the government's reassurances, particularly noting the unexplainable daylight lingering outside. At the Centerville Juvenile Detention Centre, young inmates Geronimo, Olivia, and Stella watch a news snippet warning that fracking has caused Earth's axis to shift.
As the narrative unfolds, a deliveryman named Dean (RZA) drops off rare comics for Bobby Wiggins, who runs a gas station shop. Despite his humorous exchange about life with Dean, Bobby's world takes a dark turn when news reports hint at pets behaving strangely and disappearing. As folks venture out, they realize their animals are vanishing or acting erratically; Farmer Frank can't find his dog, while motel owner Danny searches for his missing cat.
The atmosphere grows heavy with tension as Fern and her fellow cleaner, Lily, discuss the town’s new undertaker, Zelda Winston. They find her to be an enigma, and when Zelda is revealed practicing her katana techniques, it introduces an element of impending danger. Soon after, two zombies emerge at the diner, creating chaos as they consume both Fern and Lily.
The following morning, a shocking discovery awaits the officers as they respond to the diner, where they find the lifeless forms of Fern and Lily. Zoe along with her friends, Jack and Zack, heed warnings from Cliff and Ronnie about staying indoors after dark. As they unravel the mystery behind the recent bizarre occurrences, they overhear Geronimo proposing the idea of a zombie apocalypse at the detention center, a notion dismissed by the staff.
Investigation leads the officers to the cemetery, confirming their worst fears when they discover open graves. Hermit Bob, observing from the shadows, concludes that a zombie apocalypse is indeed underway, prompting Cliff and Ronnie to alert residents to stay inside. Complications escalate when a horde of zombies begins to terrorize the town. The trio of officers take up arms, with Mindy left in charge at the precinct as they venture out to combat the growing menace.
With each passing night, the dead rise again, leading to tragic encounters and bloodshed. Farmer Frank puts up a valiant fight but is ultimately overwhelmed, while Hank and Bobby devise a plan to barricade themselves in the hardware store. They unknowingly leave a backdoor unguarded, resulting in a disastrous entry by the zombies.
Amidst the chaos, the former lives of the reanimated emerge; zombies frequent places they loved in life, a haunting irony encapsulated by their fascination with smartphones and Wi-Fi. As Cliff and Ronnie grapple with their fate in the midst of mounting despair, they face an overwhelming hoard of zombies. In one intense moment, Mindy's grandmother appears among the undead, driving Mindy to join her rather than remain in the patrol car.
In a twist, Zelda maneuvers her way to safety in a Smart car, avoiding the encroaching horde expertly. Just when it seems all hope is lost, the arrival of a UFO provides a surreal distraction, abducting Zelda amid the chaos. As their world spirals deeper into madness, Cliff and Ronnie forge ahead, realizing if they are to perish, it should be in the fight against this unsettling reality. The grim reflection resonates when Hermit Bob observes, lamenting how the world has become a "fucked-up place," revealing the profound message that amidst the dark humor and horror, humanity itself remains at stake.
