Shadows on the Wall | My Dead Friend Zoe

My Dead Friend Zoe

dir Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
scr Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, AJ Bermudez
prd Paul Scanlan, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, Terri Lubaroff, Ray Maiello, Mike Field
with Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Rich Paul, John-Peter Cruz, Del Lewis, Drew Rausch, Kelsi Umeko, Barbara Lusch
release US 28.Feb.25
24/US 1h38

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Inspired by a true story, this film uses pitch-black comedy to explore grief and trauma, grounding characters in sparky dialog and powerful emotions. While the movie perhaps feels unambitious, filmmaker Kyle Hausmann-Stokes finds clever ways to depict how people grapple with deep-seated pain. The internalised approach creates believable friendships, family relationships and even an offbeat romance. And all of this inventively connects past pain with hope for the future.

After returning from military service in Afghanistan in 2016, Merit (Martin-Green) remains devastated by the death of her best friend Zoe (Morales). Now back home in Oregon, Zoe is haunting her as she reluctantly attends therapy with Dr Cole (Freeman). Worried about her, Merit's mother Kris (Reuben) asks her to check in on her army-veteran grandfather Dale (Harris) in his isolated lake house. It turns out he has early-stage Alzheimer's, so she moves out there to prepare him for a care home. Although he's having none of it. Meanwhile, she meets snarky carer Alex (Ambudkar).

Flashbacks are interspersed to reveal Merit's experience in Afghanistan, creating a stream of consciousness in her interaction with the feisty, outspoken Zoe, leading up to the momentous event Merit can't bear to even think about. And her prickliness is matched by Dale, who hides his emotions and refuses to address his illness. So as we learn what happened to Zoe, we are able to understand why Merit feels so off balance.

Merit's stubbornness is sharply well-played by Martin-Green, making her bracingly relatable. It's not that she doesn't want to open up and do the work; she feels powerless to change her outlook on life, as if her instincts have been disrupted. Her connection with Morales' acid-tongued Zoe is beautifully played, reflecting their closeness as well as their differences. Martin-Green's scenes with Harris also have a riveting chemistry that cuts to the point of the matter. And Freeman brings a beautiful gravitas to his scenes.

"Don't 'whatever' me," Dale says when Merit dismisses his harrowing memories of Vietnam. After decades, he knows how dangerous it is to "suck it up". It's fascinating to see how spending time with her grandfather and Alex helps quiet Zoe's intrusions into Merit's consciousness. Where this story goes is profound and intense, taking on an enormous issue that needs to be confronted head-on. Which of course is the only way to find a path to healing.

themes, language, violence 13.Feb.25

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