Low-budget films can be ripe for two things in particular: comedy and horror. New movie The Civil Dead and its reviews seem to promise an experience that touches just the right notes between those without being a retread of past comedies.
The reviews are mostly positive. “I’m not sure I realized that the world needed a mumblecore slacker comedy with a thread of horror,” writes Richard Propes, “but that’s exactly what we’re getting with The Civil Dead and it’s exactly what I needed.” And Louisa Moore writes, “With observational humor and an original screenplay that’s perceptive about human nature, this low-budget, slacker ghost story succeeds on many levels.”
It currently sits at 100% with 14 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, so critics seem to think that this is something to watch. Not enough people have seen it to allow for enough of an audience score yet, but we will have to see as it slowly gets a wider release this year. Already the comments are coming in on sites like Letterboxd where The Civil Dead reviews are mostly positive as well. Justin LaLiberty writes, “delightfully strange; reminds me of when American indies were consistently idiosyncratic and sincere and everyone is just giving it their all – The Sixth Sense for the Factory 25 crowd” while user Laura writes: “more movies should do this (be funny and sweet and have lonely ghosts)”.
In early February they have numerous showings at Alamo Drafthouse, while they look to expand in New York and LA and non-Alamo event screenings nationally in mid-February. The Civil Dead will be available On-Demand on February 17, 2023. You can watch The Civil Dead trailer and the official poster below.
The synopsis of the The Civil Dead is:
Clay is a loner photographer who enjoys a mundane life with his artist wife Whitney in Los Angeles. Whitney advises Clay, who has been creatively stagnant and unemployed for months, to go out and be productive while she’s out of town and not to “just lay in the living room and drink beer”. While taking photos out in a park, Clay happens upon his long-lost friend, Whit. After a night of catching up, Whit discloses an unsettling secret to Clay, which puts a strain on his marriage and causes him to question his own sanity.
Last Updated on February 9, 2023.