My Dead Friend Zoe tells the story of two young women enlisted in the army and stationed in Afghanistan. Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) has a family to go home to, but her best friend Zoe (Natalie Morales) has no family and is thinking of re-enlisting. Merit discourages her, because the conditions of war are so depressing. They have each other to keep their spirits up, but Merit knows that when she goes home, Zoe will have a difficult time. Merit promises to keep in touch with Zoe after their tour ends.
She runs into a huge problem when Zoe dies and her ghost follows her everywhere, making fun of every situation and person Merit encounters, while giving critical commentary on everything Merit does. Merit has to attend a group for veterans due to her PTSD, and in order to graduate, she has to participate. She finds that difficult with Zoe constantly interrupting, and so Dr. Cole (Morgan Freeman), who runs the meetings, refuses to sign the paperwork that will allow her to complete the sessions and no longer have to attend.
Naturally, no one else can see or hear Zoe, so it makes Merit look even more like she has a really bad problem with PTSD. Meanwhile, Merit also finds herself in charge of getting her Vietnam veteran grandfather Dale (Ed Harris) to allow himself to be placed into a home. He's been wandering due to developing Alzheimer's disease, and although he's coherent and strong most of the time, he makes mistakes that could cost him his life or even put someone else in danger. Dale absolutely refuses to be turned out of the beautiful and secluded lake house he purchased with his late wife, where he's lived for numerous years. He has wonderful memories of the times they shared there and he's still enjoying the home, surrounded by nature and wildlife.
The entire cast is exceptional, including Ed Harris who steals scenes as the irascible, lovable, and petulant Dale. Natalie Morales, who has a gift for bringing humor to a role, has a lot of fun with what is really two roles: one when Zoe is physically there in Afghanistan with Merit, and the other when she's embodying what Merit believes Zoe would say and do if she were actually there. Morales brings emotion and despair to the real Zoe, as well as lightness and laughs as the dead Zoe, although the overall theme of the movie is anything but funny.
Director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes bases the story on some of his own experiences as a vet, both in Afghanistan and what it feels like to come home after unspeakable experiences. Merit struggles with her mental health, as do other vets who have to deal with with losing friends not just to war, but to PTSD and suicide as they find they can't adjust back to civilian life. Martin-Green does a remarkable job with her role as Merit, embodying the anguish, frustration and anger that come with post-war life.
The film is beautifully written and directed by Hausmann-Stokes, making for a highly entertaining look at a topic that doesn't get discussed or covered enough. ~Alexandra Heilbron
4.5 out of 5 stars.
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