Feature2024·103m·6.3

My Dead Friend Zoe

Grief can be a funny thing.

ComedyWarDrama

Merit, a U.S. Army veteran suffering from PTSD, is repeatedly tortured by visions of her deceased friend and company buddy Zoe. After her Afghanistan service in 2016, she attends group therapy until Dale, her grandfather and former Lieutenant Colonel, is recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Merit steps up to his aide, and discovers more about herself and her family, while also gaining the courage to put her metaphorical demons to rest.

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Cast

Sonequa Martin-Green

Merit

Natalie Morales

Zoe

Ed Harris

Dale

Morgan Freeman

Dr. Cole

Utkarsh Ambudkar

Alex

Gloria Reuben

Kris

Rich Paul

Lewis

Drew Rausch

Dr. Stokes

Kelsi Umeko

Lawyer

James Bane

Dustin

Assia Lau'ren

Michelle

Alicia Borja

Erin

Thom Tran

Rufus

Richard Milanesi

Bill

Zeke Alton

Travis

John-Peter Cruz

Gonzalez

Melisa Lopez

Soldier

Nathaniel Best

Soldier

Del Lewis

Roy Purdy

Barbara Lusch

Conductor

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English
Budget
Revenue
$1.2M
Age rating
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
Legion MRadiant Media StudiosReCre8 EntertainmentBlue Three Productions

Crew

Director

Kyle Hausmann-Stokes

Writers

A.J. Bermudez, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes

Dan Romer

Original Music Composer

Matt Sakatani Roe

Director of Photography

Ali Greer

Editor

Whit Vogel

Production Design

Dionne Barens

Costume Design

Gallery

Reviews

Manuel São Bento

4/5/2025

7.0

My Dead Friend Zoe dives deep into the wounds left by war, grief, and unspoken regrets, incorporating a narrative that, while following a familiar structure, never feels emotionally hollow. It's the kind of film where the strength lies not in groundbreaking plot mechanics, but in the sheer honesty of its characters and the delicate care with which their pain is portrayed. Sonequa Martin-Green delivers a magnetic performance - quietly powerful, effortlessly vulnerable, and deeply human. The screenplay leans into genre conventions, but it does so with sincerity, making the emotional beats hit all the harder. The third act is where everything clicks into place. It's raw, unflinching, and devastating in the most beautiful way - a culmination of internal battles finally reaching catharsis. Director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes doesn't try to overplay his hand, letting the characters carry the weight, allowing moments of silence and memory to speak volumes. Yes, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it rolls with such truth and heart that you won't soon forget it. A compelling tale about healing, memory, and the ones we carry with us. Rating: B