‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ Explores Grief, Friendship, and Veteran Mental Health

The dramedy, inspired by director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes’ military experiences, highlights underrepresented veteran stories and debuts in theaters nationwide today.

The film follows Merit, a U.S. Army veteran played by Sonequa Martin-Green, who grapples with grief and mental health after losing her best friend Zoe, portrayed by Natalie Morales.
Director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, himself a veteran, aimed to create an authentic, nuanced depiction of veterans’ lives beyond typical Hollywood extremes.
The cast features a high percentage of veterans, including Morgan Freeman, who leads group therapy scenes, and Ed Harris as Merit’s grandfather coping with Alzheimer’s.
The movie addresses cultural stigmas around mental health, particularly within the Latin community and among Black and brown veterans, while also celebrating post-traumatic growth.
‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ has garnered acclaim, winning awards at SXSW and the Woodstock Film Festival, and includes a call-to-action campaign supporting veterans through theater buyouts.