This is the best new (to me) horror-comedy so far. I had heard some good things but I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this film.Zach (Dane DeHaan) is understandably upset when his girlfriend Beth (Aubrey Plaza) dies in an accident, just as he is overjoyed to find her suddenly returned to the living. But as Beth's personality changes in response to her new needs as a zombie, Zach begins to wonder if maintaining the relationship is worth the effort.
Relationships are hard, especially when you're young and it's your first serious one. How do you know when it's time to move on? Most people have at least one story about being grateful for a major life event that forced a separation when they just couldn't bring themselves to do it. They went away to college, joined the military, graduated college, or took a job in another state/town/country. It can be a relief to have an excuse that isn't "This just isn't working out any more." Those that can't manage to find an out get stuck in an unhappy cycle of wanting to leave, resenting the other person for not sensing their unhappiness, and chickening out of telling that person until they get an excuse or become so obnoxious the other person is forced to leave them. Prolonging a relationship past its natural lifespan is a recipe for disaster, in other words, like staying with your girlfriend because you "love" her even after she comes back as a zombie.
This movie would have fallen on its face if it weren't for the stellar cast. John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon are great as Beth's stunned but elated parents, while Paul Reiser and Cheryl Hines own their scenes as Zach's skeptical ones. Matthew Gray Gublar is an absolute riot as Zach's gun-toting brother and their chemistry is fantastic. Anna Kendrick, Adam Pally, and Garry Marshall also have excellent cameos.
I also appreciated that the word "zombie" was used in the script and acknowledged by the characters even when they were rationalizing how unlikely that scenario would be. Zach latches on to the idea that the housekeeper (Eva La Dare) must know what's going on because she's Haitian, which leads to a hilarious confrontation about his inherent biases while recognizing that zombies are a thing.
Pumpkin rating: 4.5/5
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