Film Review – The Civil Dead (2022)

Ghost stories are as old as cinema itself but usually, we get the typical haunting and a film that is from top to bottom a straight horror. The Civil Dead takes a more unique approach. Clay (Clay Thomas) is a photographer who is struggling to make money as a photographer in Los Angeles. One day while taking pictures he stumbles upon old-time friend Whit (Whitmer Thomas), Whit is going through a rough spell. The issue he is dealing with is that he is dead and the only person who can see him is Clay. In addition to acting duties, the film is written by Clay Thomas and Whitmer Thomas and the film is directed by Clay Thomas.

I feel the strongest aspect is the acting Clay and Whitmer do a fantastic job in their respective roles. Whitmer Thomas is a true standout. He showcases a range of emotions from joy to sadness to loneliness. There are many scenes where Whitmer is just sitting there as the character’s daily lives unfold and it is truly upsetting seeing someone so alone and helpless. The film story tackles loneliness and using the idea of someone being a cast which leads to complications of reaching out as no one can see, feel, or understand what you’re going through is truly refreshing and I felt well explored.

What shocked me the most was how funny it was. Some jokes are more subtle than others, but many moments had me giggling. There is also some clever foreshadowing in the film that I feel adds a nice texture to this film. From seeing a character just standing in the background to audio and visual clues It embraces the rule of show don’t tell. While also not a huge aspect of the film, I love the use of quotes to introduce the next chapter of the story, I feel it appropriately introduces the upcoming scenes.

The film is not perfect I do feel the film is poorly paced. The film is heavily front-loaded so as we approach the climax it loses a lot of steam. In addition, I do feel there are some moments where I felt the soundtrack was used inappropriately. Music would start playing and I felt that it ruined and impeded the scenes I had issues with.

The Civil Dead is not a perfect film, but I deeply respect this film. It Is a truly unique and fun watch with a strong leading cast and a script that is nuanced and does not head in an obvious or cliched direction.

★★★

In UK cinemas and on demand January 19th | Clay Thomas, Whitmer Thomas, Whitney Weir, Budd Diaz, Robert Longstreet | Dir: Clay Thomas | Bulldog Film Distribution

About the Author

Robert Ewing

Author

I am a freelance film critic and writer who specialises in Anime and Asian cinema. I have adored film since a young age, having watched films that were far too old for me, such as RoboCop, Die Hard, and Hot Tub Time Machine, to discovering the heights of foreign cinema through films like Headhunters and Battle Royale. Growing up with such a diverse catalogue of films that I cherished sparked my desire to discuss them. This passion eventually led me to become a reviewer. Dissecting films, speaking to filmmakers I admire, and showcasing the best of Asian and anime cinema is how I live my best and truest life.

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