Inspired by a true story, a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran—thanks to the presence of her dead best friend from the Army—is at odds with her estranged Vietnam Veteran grandfather and her VA counselor.
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)
Director, Screenplay
Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Screenplay
A.J. Bermudez
April 5, 2025
7
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