The Civil Dead is a hilariously charming movie that is also a bit on the dark side, as it tackles loneliness and death.
The Civil Dead starts off completely charming, and then gets weird — but stays charming. Clay Tatum and Whitmer Thomas, who play characters of the same name, have a bizarre friendship. One of them is alive, and one of them isn’t. When their paths cross after not seeing each other for a while, it is quickly revealed that Whit is no longer among the living, and Clay is one of the only people that can see him. At first, this makes for some fun antics and memorable times, but it quickly gets scary and intense, as Whit discovers he has supernatural powers that he can’t control.
The best thing about this movie is hands down the natural comedic relationship that Tatum and Thomas have. They seem so comfortable with each other, that it makes everything they go through feel real and believable. They work very well together, turning this unique story into a silly buddy comedy, with a bit of a scary twist, that many viewers are sure to enjoy.
The Civil Dead also dives into loneliness in a way that is quite raw and heartbreaking. Whit has been walking around dead for who knows how long and no one has been able to see him. He is finally able to connect with someone, who is a friend no less, and his excitement gets the better of him. As he becomes extremely clingy, Clay starts to feel haunted and this is where things take a turn.
A movie that once had me laughing until my sides hurt, now has me on the edge of my seat and my heart pounding as I wonder what is going to happen next. I have to admit, I did not that see that ending coming — and it wraps up the film in the most brilliant way. The Civil Dead is unique, bizarre, twisted, hilarious, and a little bit scary. Tatum and Thomas are fantastic on screen together, and I look forward to seeing much more from them in the future.
Rating: 4 out of 5
About The Civil Dead
Clay (writer/director Clay Tatum) is a struggling photographer. While his wife is away on business, he drinks too much beer and discovers a questionable way to make some extra cash using his apartment. When he decides to get out and take some photos around LA, he runs into an old acquaintance, Whit (co-writer Whitmer Thomas, also appearing in Homebody).
Thing is… Whit is no longer “alive,” and for reasons unknown to both of them, Clay is the first and only person who can see him. The Civil Dead deftly presents an absurdist plot with understated (but very, very funny) comedy that deals with psychological themes such as friendship, the dynamics of marriage, and betrayal. Sometimes running into an old friend ends up being more of a curse than a blessing.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.