HANDLING THE UNDEAD
(director/writer: Thea Hvistendahl; screenwriters: screenplay & novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist; cinematographer: Pal Ulvik Rokseth; editors: Thomas Grotmol, Trude Lirhus; music: Peter Raeburn; cast: Renate Reineve (Anna), Anders Danielsen Lie (David), Bahar Pars (Eva), Bjorn Sundquist (Mahler), Jan Hrynkiewicz (Peter), Kian Hansen (Kian), Bente Borsum (Tora) Olga Damani (Elisabet), Inesa Dauksta (Flora); Runtime: 99; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Kristin Emblem, Guri Neby; Elnar Film/Neon; 2024-Norway-Sweden/Norway/Greece-in Norwegian, with English subtitles)
“An uneasy and somber atmospheric zombie tale on grief.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
An uneasy and somber atmospheric zombie tale on grief, that gets under your skin as it tells of a wretched day in the lives of the living. It’s based on the book by the Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist (“Let The Right One In”) and is directed with assurance in her film debut by the Norwegian filmmaker Thea Hvistendahl. Thea co-writes it with the author.
It reunites the stars of “The Worst Person in the World” – Renate Reineve and Anders Danielsen Lie.
The haunting horror thriller is a nightmare story set in Oslo on an uncomfortable sweltering summer day.
Anna (Renate Reineve) is inconsolable after losing her young son Elias, and is annoyed with her elderly father (Bjorn Sundquist) and his efforts to console her.
At the funeral home, the elderly Tora (Bente Børsum) sits in a nearly empty room where her life partner Elisabet (Olga Damani) lies in a coffin.
A car accident that evening leaves Eva (Bahar Pars), the girlfriend of David (Anders Danielsen Lie), on life support.
During the evening Oslo has flickering lights, swarming birds and the continuous noise of car alarms.
For no rational reasons all three dead people that night return to life as spiritless creatures, if you will zombies, who can’t speak.
Since these loved ones are no longer what they once were, the reaction between zombie and loved one becomes chilling and not quite a human experience. It leaves you thinking are these returning loved ones really the same people you loved if they no longer have souls.
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 8/21/2024 GRADE: B+