My Dead Friend Zoe

This film is particularly special to me. I will be reviewing My Dead Friend Zoe, an original film produced by my dad, Richard Silverman. I had the opportunity to on set gaining firsthand experience in the filmmaking process.

My Dead Friend Zoe: A Darkly Comic Take on Life, Death, and Military Ghosts

Some movies handle grief with soft piano music and lingering stares. My Dead Friend Zoe (Natalie Morales) does it with a smirk and sarcastic one-liners. It’s the kind of film that would break bad news the way your parents might tell you your childhood pet died through an oddly upbeat song, leaving you unsure whether to laugh, cry, or both. Directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes (ex vet), the film walks a tightrope between irreverent humor and emotional depth, never letting one overshadow the other. At its core, it’s a story about veterans, memory, and the complicated ways we carry the past. This film shows the reality of what happens when the people who serve our country go home and have to cope with PTSD. Not to spoil anything (seriously not a spoiler) but the most shocking part of the film was seeing the number of vets who die at war compared to those who we loose to suicide once they come home. 

Now for the cinephiles. The strategic use of cutaway shots plays a crucial role in manipulating audience perception, particularly in deceiving viewers about when the ghost is actually witnessing events and when she is not. These cuts seamlessly shift focus between Zoe and other elements within the scene, creating an unclear perception about her presence. This technique heightens the psychological tension, making audiences second guess whether Zoe is truly a part of the moment or merely an observer from beyond. Moreover, the cutaways contribute to the emotional weight of the film without relying on dialogue. Instead of explicitly stating Zoe’s feelings or the impact of her presence, the camera lingers on small but powerful details such as the shift in a character’s posture, the flicker of uncertainty in their eyes, or the judgment influencing Merit's (Sonequa Martin-Green) decisions. By using these visual strategies, My Dead Friend Zoe masterfully immerses viewers in a world where perception is fluid, enhancing the story’s emotional and psychological impact. 

In the newsletter, I include a comedic stereotype of the film’s projected audience, imagine a Pinterest-style mood board of what they’d wear to a screening.