It’s rare that a filmmaker can bring such warmth and genuineness to a story about grief. Bringing in his personal experiences in the Army for his feature debut, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes partnered with AJ Bermudez on a story he crafted with Cherish Chen. Blending the complications of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss, and grief isn’t easy to do, especially with underlying dark comedic tones. Yet, Hausmann-Stokes does so gracefully to show the importance of friendship and family during troubling times.
My ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Friend Zoe begins with combat soldiers and best friends, Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) and her platoon mate Zoe (Natalie Morales). The year is 2016, and Merit and Zoe have some downtime during their tour, belting out lyrics to “Umbrella” by Rihanna and enjoying each other’s company. This flashback alone tells us plenty about the two. Merit is a bit on the reserved side while Zoe embraces her wild side and lust for life. Taking a sneak snip of alcohol while she’s on the job is just one example of her spontaneity.
Director Hausmann-Stokes Draws Inspiration From His Army Days To Craft an empathetic view on PTSD.
Fast-forward to the present, Merit attempts to settle back into life outside the military. She can’t do so entirely because the ghost of Zoe haunts her. That’s not the only problem Merit is facing. Her grandfather, Dale (Ed Harris), is adjusting to life without his wife while experiencing an early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease. While Merit avoids her required therapy sessions with Dr. Cole (Morgan Freeman), dropping everything to trick her grandfather into selling his house and putting him in a home at the request of her mother (Gloria Reuben) seems like a living nightmare.
One of the best aspects of the film is that [Hausmann-Stokes] dares not bother us with violent war sequences or flashbacks that feel unintentional.
The road back to civilian life after the military is a topic that has been covered in films before, but none quite balanced its seriousness with comedic flair and genuine warmth like My ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Friend Zoe. For such a story centered around grief, we don’t often see the characters wallow in it, nor is this a script that leads to much tear-jerking. Yet, Hausmann-Stokes takes a methodical approach to navigating Merit’s transition. It isn’t easy dealing with the trauma of the past, nor is it glamorous to finally get relief from all the hurt built up inside.
One of the best aspects of the film is that he dares not bother us with violent war sequences or flashbacks that feel unintentional. Instead, we feel the weight of the characters’ traumas through their stoic stances or subtle body movements to understand the realities of war. One exceptional example of this is when Merit decides to go on a date with Alex (Utkarsh Ambudkar), the charming gentleman who owns a nearby retirement home.
My ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Friend Zoe Is Full Of Special Moments That Remind Us To Be There For Our Family & Friends
When Merit attempts to open up about her trauma, the lighting reflects the PTSD through dimming and flashes. The direction and score during these sequences are great as well, as they give us just enough to boost our anxiety before pulling back at the right moment to pique our curiosity with a dash of empathy. It has just enough style to render it a memorable feature and the perfect amount of tenderness required to ground it. My ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Friend Zoe is an indie gem equivalent to a warm embrace needed after a hard day.
Though the script focuses heavily on loss, family, and trauma, the humor that is presented through Zoe and Merit’s relationship leads to some heartwarming moments. To that end, Martin-Green is an absolute force navigating the range of emotions required in this role. Her ability to demonstrate her character’s stoicism while holding in all her anxiety through wit and avoidance provides such a fascinating watch. If nothing else, it reminds us to give grace to our friends and family who don’t often readily share what they’re going through but still need our support anyway.
While Morales mostly spends her time onscreen as a ghost from Merit’s mind, her lightheartedness, charming nature, and delivery of witty one-liners offer a breath of fresh air when the script begins to lean on the emotionally claustrophobic side. Frankly, the performances, including a scene-stealing Harris, make My ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Friend Zoe a great watch with family and friends. And even though the conflicts are resolved rather easily, the important messages about being there for friends and family members are very loud, clear, and much-needed during this time of chaos and turmoil.
My ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Friend Zoe premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2024 and is now playing in theaters.
