An Honest Take on Healing and Survival

Read Time:5 Minute, 12 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
My Dead Friend Zoe
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Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
Year Released: 2023, 2025
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director(s): Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Writer(s): Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, Cherish Chen, A.J. Bermudez
Cast: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Gloria Reuben, Rich Paul, Drew Rausch, Kelsi Umeko, James Bane
Where To Watch: coming to theaters February 28, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: Some films are content to entertain, while others have something deeper to say. MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE manages to do both, blending humor with a story that cuts to the core of grief, trauma, and the struggle to find ‘normal.’ It tells a story shaped by lived experience, bringing an authenticity that elevates it. Balancing emotion with unexpected humor, it crafts a narrative that refuses to offer simple answers while exploring the reality of returning home to a world that no longer feels like home.

At the center of it all is Merit, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, a former soldier carrying baggage that doesn’t just disappear with time. Haunted—literally and emotionally—by her fallen best friend Zoe (Natalie Morales), she’s stuck in a cycle of avoidance, keeping one foot in the past even as she’s forced to navigate the present. But this isn’t just a brooding, tragic character study. The film keeps things lively with Zoe’s ever-chatty ghostly presence, delivering biting commentary and refusing to let Merit move on quietly. The chemistry between Martin-Green and Morales turns what could have been a slow-burn drama into something sharper, keeping the tone from sinking too deep into despair.

Surrounding them is a cast that adds depth to the story. Morgan Freeman plays Dr. Cole, a therapist with a quiet but firm presence who challenges Merit to face what she’s running from, refusing to let her go through the motions without confronting her pain. Ed Harris portrays her grandfather, Dale, a Vietnam War veteran from a different era, when emotions were bottled up and left to fester rather than processed. Their tense yet meaningful interactions highlight how approaches to trauma have shifted across generations, even as the core struggles remain the same. Then there’s Alex, played by Utkarsh Ambudkar, who brings warmth and normalcy but underscores how difficult it can be to connect with those who haven’t shared the same experiences. Every relationship in the film adds another layer to Merit’s journey, making it clear that healing isn’t a solo process—it’s shaped by the people who refuse to let you disappear into your head.

The film takes a non-traditional storytelling approach, reflecting memory's fragmented nature. Rather than unfolding in a neat, linear fashion, it bounces between past and present, making it clear that Merit’s mind is never fully in one place. Flashbacks arrive without warning, tossing the audience into moments of camaraderie, loss, and everything in between.

The film leans into contrasts. The war-torn past is captured with harsh, sun-scorched visuals, while the present is colder and subdued, emphasizing the disconnect between Merit and the world around her. This contrast plays a crucial role in making her unease feel tangible, reinforcing how removed she feels from the everyday lives of those who have never experienced war. Some supporting characters could have used more time to breathe—what’s there is compelling, but certain moments feel like missed opportunities to explore their perspectives fully.

What truly sets MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE apart is its refusal to follow a traditional redemption arc. It doesn’t promise that healing is easy or that grief follows a clean trajectory. Instead, it presents a protagonist who resists, stumbles and progresses in frustratingly small steps. Humor plays a key role in preventing the film from becoming overly heavy-handed. Beyond the personal journey at its core, the film also serves as a quiet commentary on how society treats veterans. There’s an expectation that returning soldiers should reintegrate seamlessly and shoulder the weight of their experiences to avoid making others uncomfortable. The film challenges that idea not through grand speeches or obvious messaging but by showing the reality—people falling through the cracks, struggling in silence while the world moves on without them.

The performances carry all of this. Martin-Green delivers a deeply felt performance, shifting between quiet suffering, sharp wit, and raw vulnerability without ever overplaying the emotions. Morales counters this with a lighter and more grounded approach. Harris brings a subdued power to Dale, embodying a man shaped by his unspoken battles.

MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE lingers not because of spectacle but because of its honesty. It captures the feeling of being stuck between past and present, between laughter and sorrow, between moving on and holding on. This isn’t just another war drama. It’s a story about the weight of memory, the power of connection, and the reality that some ghosts never leave—they become quieter over time.

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[photo courtesy of LEGION M, RADIANT MEDIA STUDIOS, RECRE8 ENTERTAINMENT, BRIARCLIFF ENTERTAINMENT]

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