My Dead Friend Zoe Review

You won’t forget me right? We will still be friends after this? 2 inseparable friends Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Zoe (Natalie Morales) both stationed in Afghanistan develop a bond, but begin to wonder what life will be like once they leave the Army. Merit is determined to go to college, and Zoe doesn’t know where she will fit in; and even begins to entertain a second tour. The film make time jumps throughout, where the film starts off is not where we end. Merit is overcome with grief, that sends her on a spiral that lands her in court and a VA( (veteran affairs) group to help her work through trauma, and the death of her friend.

Grief is a funny thing, it can it you out of nowhere and it never goes away; it just gets a little easier to manage.

While Merit is in her new group, she is visited by her dead best friend, who just won’t go away. She is so overcome, she cannot talk about it and doesn’t know what to do. Dr. Cole (Morgan Freeman) who leads the group, tries to get her to open up, but it doesn’t quite work. It also doesn’t help, that her grandfather Dale (Ed Harris) has been plagued with early Alzheimer and her and her mother are forced to confront that and try to get him to go in home. But him being stubborn, her refuses, and Merit stays with him for a while. This allows her to make a new friend, and allows her to confront what she has tried so hard to keep in.

Will this internal confrontation, lead to healing to down the same path Zoe went?

For me there, was not enough of Morgan Freeman. I would have loved to see Merit working externally on these issues, through the story. Instead of that internal battle with Zoe, and herself. I do feel the film could have benefited from the audience listening to her story in the group, to see it all come together at the end. I felt somewhat, it would be benefited the characters Dale and Merit to bond over their experiences and healing together. But, I get their internal struggles to keep things within. I would have loved Morgan Freeman working with Merit, to get her to open up. I also feel like the story would have benefited from what led her to the group, and more sessions. I just don’t feel it relied enough on the drama side of the story and the build up.

It still is a beautifully made film with a lot of emotions, and internal struggles; and a reminder of what our veterans go through when they come home. With strong performances, I was still drawn to the story but; it left me wanting more. Veterans you are not alone, and if you or another are struggling please visit the mental health hotline.

Overall 4/5