My Dead Friend Zoe

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My Dead Friend Zoe

In Theaters Feb 28, 2025

1h 38m

Comedy

Drama

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17 Reviews

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MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE is a dark comedy drama that follows the journey of Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran who is at odds with her family thanks to the presence of Zoe (Natalie Morales), her dead best friend from the Army. Despite the persistence of her VA group counselor (Morgan Freeman), the tough love of her mother (Gloria Reuben) and the levity of an unexpected love interest, Merit's cozy-dysfunctional friendship with Zoe keeps the duo insulated from the world. That is until Merit's estranged grandfather (Ed Harris) -- holed up at the family's ancestral lake house -- begins to lose his way and needs the one thing he refuses... help. At its core, this is a buddy film about a complicated friendship, a divided family, and the complex ways in which we process grief.

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In Theaters Feb 28, 2025

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Kyle Hausmann-Stokes

Director

Sonequa Martin-Green

Merit

Natalie Morales

Zoe

Ed Harris

Dale

Morgan Freeman

Dr. Cole

Gloria Reuben

Kris

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

A deeply personal film that comes from Hausmann-Stokes’ own experience as a vet, this is a powerful drama with a phenomenal performance at its core and another reminder that Ed Harris is one of our best living actors in its supporting cast.

Mar 16, 2024

Full Review

Peter Debruge

Variety

Smart and sincere but never sanctimonious, the awareness-raising drama doubles as a public service message of sorts.

Mar 14, 2024

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Valerie Complex

Deadline Hollywood Daily

The film's focus on characters of color and the community that forms around those most affected by trauma are the script's most powerful assets.

Mar 14, 2024

Full Review

Abe Friedtanzer

We Live Entertainment

A poignant tribute to veterans and the difficult journey they face coming home, unresolved in its search for solutions but determined to make its message count.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 27, 2024

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Looks back on the impact of the war on the soldiers, their families and the need for ensuring the vets get mental health treatment.

Rated: B-

May 13, 2024

Full Review

Diana Helmuth

Pajiba

The most spectacular feature of My Dead Friend Zoe is that it is an honest movie about PTSD that somehow manages to be an upper.

Mar 19, 2024

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Synopsis

MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE is a dark comedy drama that follows the journey of Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran who is at odds with her family thanks to the presence of Zoe (Natalie Morales), her dead best friend from the Army. Despite the persistence of her VA group counselor (Morgan Freeman), the tough love of her mother (Gloria Reuben) and the levity of an unexpected love interest, Merit's cozy-dysfunctional friendship with Zoe keeps the duo insulated from the world. That is until Merit's estranged grandfather (Ed Harris) -- holed up at the family's ancestral lake house -- begins to lose his way and needs the one thing he refuses... help. At its core, this is a buddy film about a complicated friendship, a divided family, and the complex ways in which we process grief.

Director: Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Producer: Paul Scanlan, Terri Lubaroff, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, Ray Maiello, Mike Field, Richard Silverman, Robert Paschall Jr.
Screenwriter: Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, A.J. Bermudez
Distributor: Briarcliff Entertainment
Production Co: Legion M, Radiant Media Studios
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 28, 2025, Wide
Runtime: 1h 38m