Review: My Dead Friend Zoe

20 May, 2025 William Eguizabal 0 Comments 1 category

Title: My Dead Friend Zoe
MPA Rating: R
Director: Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

What It Is: Merit (Martin-Green) has been through a lot. She’s endured war and watched friends struggle with depression and personal demons. She now attends a support group for veterans—alongside the ghost of her best friend, Zoe (Morales).

At the same time, her aging grandfather Dale (Harris), also a veteran, is reaching a stage where his ability to live independently is raising concerns—especially from Merit’s mother, Kris (Gloria Reuben). But Dale isn’t planning to go quietly.

Meanwhile, Alex (Utkarsh Ambudkar) is trying to break through the walls of the enigmatic Merit and get to know her.

What We Think: This film doesn’t hide its exploration of grief—it wears it like a badge of honor, as something to be celebrated. It’s a beautiful example of a film fully committing to its emotional core and trusting the audience to follow.

Director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes weaves in elements of his own experience as a combat veteran, something he discusses in our interview with him (see below).

Sonequa Martin-Green is stellar, and Natalie Morales absolutely brings it. Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman are excellent in their smaller roles, and it was a pleasure to see Gloria Reuben on screen again.

Our Grade: B-, This is the kind of indie film that really hits all the right emotional notes for me—and I’m sure it will for you, too.

To any veterans reading this, I want to extend my most heartfelt thanks for your service. It’s something we’ve never had the chance to say here, and that’s entirely on me.

This one’s a definite recommendation. I just love Natalie Morales’ work in whatever she does, and that absolute fire streak she’s on continues, as far as I’m concerned.