The undead take over the town with the permission of the survivors. We never do find out what happens to the psychic family and the professor, Harvey or Di'ana, or the new zombie town. I myself lost many a night's sleep over the ending. Typically, the horror genre is not extremely positive towards female characters. This film is no exception.
Women are the focus of the majority of the film's violent crimes.
The three murders at the beginning all involve female victims. Even when a female is not being the center of violence, this film portrays them in a less than wholesome and intelligent manner. As Frank mentioned, Nellie's mom did not seem extremely intelligent or moral. As I said, the mayor seemed weak, ineffective, and was adulterous. She is eventually killed by the male, ex-politican zombie.