Written and directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, co-written by A.J. Bermudez Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, co-written by A.J. Bermudez, a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran—thanks to the presence of her dead best friend from the Army—is at odds with her estranged Vietnam Veteran grandfather and her VA counsellor. Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben and Utkarsh Ambudkar.
First off, Natalie Morales is ridiculously underrated both as an actress and a filmmaker. She has an excellent range in her performances and her debut feature Language Lessons is entirely brilliant and deserves to be seen much more than it has been. Here, she brings an abrasive charm, her sarcasm and wit are hugely enjoyable and have a nicely dark edge. She’s paired perfectly with Sonequa Martin-Green who gives a sincerely moving and heart-breaking performance. The two have a terrific chemistry, creating a very different type of haunting that’s cleverly done, building a strong friendship and tension at the same time.
Stories about veterans tend to try and be grand, winding, heavy tomes, straying away from the everyday, whereas My Dead Friend Zoe brings it back to something grounded. Using comedy and a relatable style to lead you gradually into this complicated story, making it lighter but still holding onto the feel of realism. Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ style lets you really connect with these characters rather than adding the distance of it being a very specific experience only those in the military will know. It captures a tone of being troubled and struggling but holding onto the possibility of hope and change.
There’s an extremely meaningful message to be found within its story, it’s an issue that has become more widely discussed in recent years and it’s great to see projects like this continue to further those efforts. It’s a story that will likely hit you harder than you might expect, it slowly unravels itself with smart pacing and editing. It also shows the power of female friendship and the mark that it leaves, which Martin-Green and Morales capture beautifully.
It does in some ways feel rather familiar but at the same time, it has its own personality to make up for that. There’s a great deal of charm and Hausmann-Stokes mixes that with a captivating amount of tension. Plus, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want Morgan Freeman as their therapist? He brings his usual generous, kind persona. Ed Harris also gives a great performance as Merit’s (Martin-Green) grandfather, it’s a good mix of curmudgeon and loving, and he’s a great match for Merit’s strong sense of denial, both working through their own issues. Utkarsh Ambudkar is another big addition to the charm of My Dead Friend Zoe as he’s incredibly sweet as Alex.
With My Dead Friend Zoe, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes and A.J. Bermudez translate a common experience of veterans and a vital issue that impacts their community, in a relatable, entertaining and touching way. It’s funny yet remarkably sad, it respects the weight of the issue but doesn’t try to be heavy. The cast are a strong ensemble but the pairing of Sonequa Martin-Green and Natalie Morales was a truly special bit of casting, the two of them are magnificent together. Sometimes films about difficult issues make the biggest impact by being able to make you both laugh and cry, My Dead Friend Zoe is one of those films.
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