by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What if you were constantly haunted by one of your dead loved ones? While it sounds like the plot of a horror movie, this concept can be leveraged in other ways to explore loss and grief. Death is one of the most complex elements of life, as it can both be a good thing and a bad thing. It could be a loss of life and potential, or the ending of suffering. In particular, death is always on the mind of a soldier. Your life is always on the line, and you find deep bonds with those who hold your life in their hands. That is the core of the new dark comedy/war drama My Dead Friend Zoe.
Co-writer and director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes channels his own experiences in the military and injects it into a story that was inspired by a real connection. A veteran, Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), is haunted by the visage of her best friend Zoe (Natalie Morales). Merit struggles to overcome what happened to Zoe while trying to open up in a support group, and to support her war veteran grandfather (Ed Harris), who is struggling with Alzheimer’s. The mystery of what happened to Zoe is impressively built, and subverts some expectations. This thread is one of the most important elements of the story, and the key to Merit’s suffering — it delivers big payoffs and emotion. A lot of humor stems from Morales’ banter, and helps this film deliver in so many ways. The challenging journey that Merit goes on challenges is moving and impactful. There is a romantic subplot that feels more distracting, but that is really the only thread that doesn’t feel important to the film.
Working two jobs, Hausmann-Stokes delivers a nice balance of humor and pathos. The banter between Martin-Green and Morales is perfect, making for many funny moments, but it more importantly delivers plenty of big moments as the film reaches its climax. The script’s structure is fantastic, as it bounces back and forth between Merit’s journey now and the war time connection she had with Zoe. The reveal of the truth is impactful, driving home the film’s themes and sensitive issues. There might be some inconsistencies in the logic of Zoe’s presence in the film, but it ultimately works so well. The film builds to Merit finally opening about her past, and it’s a satisfying payoff. The dynamic between Merit and her grandfather allows the film to explore the stigma of PTSD and generational divides.
But it’s the cast that brings the whole film together. Martin-Green is charismatic, pulling the audience into her challenging journey with a rich performance. Her chemistry with Morales is off the charts — it delivers in each scene they share, whether it is showing off their wonderful friendship, the tension due to what happened to Zoe, or the struggle that Merit is feeling. Morales is one of the most under-appreciated actors out there today, especially with how much empathy and laughter she brings to this film. Harris delivers a rugged but warm performance that explores some of the challenges of aging, as well as the legacy of the military. Then there is Morgan Freeman. His dialogue is mostly expositional, but his legendary presence delivers as a nice emotional anchor in the film.
In the end, Hausmann-Stokes’ military experience certainly shines through. My Dead Friend Zoe strikes a great tonal balance, exploring its themes with honesty and tact. This film might feel gimmicky, and it has some loose threads, but by the time the credits roll, you know you have experienced something worthwhile.
Rating: Liked It
My Dead Friend Zoe is currently playing in theaters
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