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.
我死去的朋友佐伊, 마이 데드 프렌드 조이, La mia amica Zoe, 我死掉的朋友佐伊, Моя мёртвая подруга Зои, زوئی دوست بی جان من, Moja mrtva prijateljica Zoe, החברה המתה שלי, זואי, Minha Amiga Morta Zoe
USA South by Southwest Film & TV Festival USA Mill Valley Film Festival 
Netherlands Leiden International Film Festival USA Newport Beach Film Festival 
Italy Torino Film Festival 
UK Glasgow Film Festival UK Manchester Film Festival USAR Italy Italy Netherlands UK USA
“i’m so sorry i didn’t see how bad you were doing.”
man what the fuck :(
In a strange way My Dead Friend Zoe reminded me of My Old Ass. The destination made the journey so worth it. A totally unexpected crushing revelation during the last act completely changed my perspective of the entire film, transformed it from a solid movie into a powerful and important one. The first time a pay it forward campaign during the closing credits didn't make my eyes roll, actually felt appropriate and warranted. The highest of high three and half stars. Definitely take your veterans.
My issues with the script are defeated by the excellent performance by Sonequa Martin-Green. Let’s make her a star. (Doesn’t hurt that Ed Harris is still one of our best too.)
I’m about the last person who’s a fan of military propaganda or anything like it, but this one got me.
Probably the most empathetic movie I’ve seen about veteran’s trauma and the fact that it’s grounded by the directors personal experience in combat really makes it work.
Pretty sad but ends on a bittersweet note.
My Dead Friend Zoe’s ability to change its tone at the flip of a dime feels remarkable at times, especially with real gravity of understanding Natalie Morales and who exactly she was in her death, but it’s the performance of Sonequa Martin-Green that really sells how overwhelming grief and trauma can be for veterans. Really too on the nose for me at times, and I don’t want that to come across as insensitive considering how relatable this story may feel for some and how much it did move me, especially with its ending.
My brother and dad are both veterans, and while they've always faced their own struggles, I noticed a change in my brother when he returned. I was too young to fully understand the impact the military had on my dad, but I can see now how it affected him—and continues to. My brother enlisting was a shock—he's always been reserved, quiet, and kept to himself. When he came back, he was still the same person, but there was a weight to him that wasn’t there before. I know he really missed being home. My dad, too, said he changed because of his time in the military. With his issues, I can see why, but he was so young and impressionable.…
The same rigorous routine that Merit frames her day to day life post-active duty with is what My Dear Friend Zoe uses to depict its subject matter. The rhythm of this thing interweaves the present and the past into something that on gut reaction feels choppy, but on deeper reflection works as a flurry of frenzied moments. An invasion, because facing these issues head on is an invasion for Merit. You can’t quite get a grasp on the full picture until she unlocks those places within herself. Reaching the final destination is a marathon, not a sprint.
Deeply impressed by the humor that inserts itself through Natalie Morales performance. Her work as Zoe is so striking because it’s very funny until…
A directorial debut that comes from the heart. I was surprised to find out early on that My Dead Friend Zoe, was inspired by co-writer/director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ experience as a vet that served in Iraq. A good film that tackles both PTSD and Alzheimer’s, this is one to check out for the great acting and solid writing, and even more so if you’re a veteran.
This film has Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris in it (Freeman not as much) and yet it is the lead Sonequa Martin-Green, a genre tv show actress, that shines the brightest. She’s got that gravitas that while is not required to be a good actor, the great ones usually have in spades. She’s authentic as a…
definitely a slow burn but the ending had me in shambles
pushed from an okay movie into a really fucking good one by an incredible performance from sonequa martin-green
I do wish this was funnier than it lets on. With a title like My Dead Friend Zoe, I really hoped for some dark, fucked up humor. Like morbid-ass buddy comedy. The dead friend is kind of just annoying, though. 😅
Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ direction and story are deftly sensitive and mildly funny. There’s no doubt his own experience as an army vet served him well.
Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris do their thing quietly and well in non-central roles. Sonequa Martin-Green gave an affecting and emotional performance as the lead. I would love to see more from her. Looks like she was in The Walking Dead for years, but I haven’t caught that show (yet?). I fear Natalie Morales is…
My Dead Friend Zoe is a good movie that makes a number of slight but important errors on its way to being a great movie. I think I understood the choices from a ticket sales standpoint, but not from an honest, earnest, real talk standpoint. It's unfortunate... but its a good movie regardless.
It stars Sonequa Martin-Green as a army vet trying to get by now that she's back home. Forced into group therapy with Morgan Freeman, she can't bring herself to explain the source of her PTSD. It has something to with her dead friend who is haunting her but we don't know the details. Meanwhile, she tries to help her vet grandad Ed Harris at his cabin.
I…
