MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE
Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben, Utkarsh Ambudkar
Director: Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
ROBERT
War and family drama often coincide as worlds bleed over and compartmentalization becomes impossible. My Dead Friend Zoe expertly overlays each side for Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) to unveil a complete mosaic of trauma. Zoe (Natalie Morales) anthropomorphizes that for Merit as the part of her subconscious that won’t let go and forgive herself, but not for the reasons you think. With the gravitas of Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman buoying the peripheries, this is a story made by soldiers, with soldiers, but is ubiquitous in its message on easing the struggle with support.
PAIGE
Kyle Hausmann-Stokes' beautiful directorial debut, My Dead Friend Zoe, is based on a true story about his experiences after serving in the military that sheds light on those that hold onto the past and struggle to push through the pain. Despite the film's weighty subject matter, Hausmann-Stokes handles it in a surprisingly lighthearted and wholesome way. Because of Sonequa Martin-Green and Natalie Morales' sincere performances, you will laugh and cry throughout this movie. All in all, even though the movie has a somewhat inconsistent tone, I didn't mind because it has a satisfying emotional payoff that makes it worthwhile to see.
BRYAN
Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ directorial debut, My Dead Friend Zoe, showcases a devastatingly raw turn from Sonequa Martin-Green in a heartbreaking yet surprisingly heartfelt tale about a military veteran battling PTSD and regret. Tackling a story with this subject matter requires a lot of thought and care, which Hausmann-Stokes thankfully does. It was impressive to see the balance of making one laugh one minute and cry the next, even if the tone does come off as inconsistent at times. A solid debut from a filmmaker with lots of promise. I definitely won’t be listening to a certain Rihanna song the same way again.
