In My Dead Friend Zoe, the protagonist, Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), is never truly alone. A constant presence in her life is the ghost of Zoe, her late Army friend, who appears only to Merit. Zoe’s ghost mocks, heckles, and disrupts Merit’s journey through grief, acting as both an affectionate and frustrating barrier to her healing process.
Despite her support group leader’s (Morgan Freeman) stern reminders about attending her court-ordered therapy, Merit retreats to the remote Oregon forest to stay with her grandfather, Dale (Ed Harris). Dale, a Vietnam War veteran and a figure of immense respect for Merit, is beginning to show signs of dementia. Meanwhile, her mother (Gloria Reuben) is determined to sell his lakeside home and place him in a retirement facility.
As Merit grapples with these family pressures and a possible romance with a retirement home resident (Utkarsh Ambudkar), Zoe’s ghost remains an ever-present, wisecracking companion. Through flashbacks, the film reveals the trauma Merit carries from her time in Afghanistan.
Directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, who co-wrote the script with A.J. Bermudez and Cherish Chen, My Dead Friend Zoe is adapted from Hausmann-Stokes’ own short film, Merit x Zoe. A veteran who himself suffered the loss of fellow soldiers, Hausmann-Stokes is intent on shedding light on the struggles of veterans dealing with grief and PTSD. The film concludes with messages of support for veterans and information on accessing help.
However, My Dead Friend Zoe is far from a didactic piece. Martin-Green’s performance as a grieving woman caught between guilt and healing is profoundly moving, showing the deep internal conflict that makes happiness feel like a betrayal. Natalie Morales shines as Zoe, effortlessly balancing mischief with tenderness. Freeman, though present, takes on a smaller role, but Harris’ portrayal of Dale’s simmering anger is chilling, even in silence.
Hausmann-Stokes’ direction is a standout, capturing the disorienting and isolating nature of Merit’s world without falling into melodrama. His sensitive approach to the story offers an intimate look into the chaos of grief and the alienation felt by veterans, making this film a potent and thought-provoking experience. It will be intriguing to see how Hausmann-Stokes handles future projects outside the deeply personal realm of My Dead Friend Zoe.
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