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My Dead Friend Zoe

My Dead Friend Zoe

  • Status: Released
  • 09-03-2024
  • Runtime: 103 min
  • Score: 6.375
  • Vote count: 52

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.

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

Sandra Lee

Soldier Singer

Erick Jason Sabino

Choir Member

Shawn Harper

Choir Member

Thomas Harper

Choir Member

James Kreuzberger

Choir Member

Mary King

Choir Member

Michelle Valko

Choir Member

Anja Akstin

Afghanistan Soldier

Marcia Lynn Anthony

Afghanistan Soldier

Nathaniel J. Best

Afghanistan Soldier

Renee Boehm

Afghanistan Soldier

Jordan J. Hunter

Afghanistan Soldier

Cherrie McRae

Afghanistan Soldier

Larry Freeman

Afghanistan Soldier

Adrienne Sparks

Receptionist / Park Goer (uncredited)

Manuel São Bento

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