Started strong. Fizzled out over time. I don't know what was more unrealistic, the main premise, or Clay's reactions to his old friend.

I dont understand how this is categorized as a comedy. Very tedious.

No spoilers. I'm stunned at how positive all the reviews are. The reason I chose to watch it was because of so many high reviews. But the humor level is a 1. The story depth is a 1. It was hard to stay awake through it as it was so slow moving. Super low budget. Very amateur actors. 20 minutes of the movie have to be of people sleeping or sitting and not talking. Clerks movie was better acted. The audio is difficult to hear. I was waiting for it to have some twists or get some level of interesting storyline. It never happened.

There's a very interesting core idea here about aimless 30 somethings haunting each other, I just wish that the narrative wasn't as equally aimless.

Dark, shot beautifully, but most of all it is funny as hell. This movie could have been twice as long and I wouldn't have minded it a bit. The pacing and naturalistic dialogue make this such a smooth ride -until it doesn't want you to feel that. It's remained rewarding on rewatches. Can't wait to see what's next from these guys.

Funny little inverse on a genre that has been done to death

Toys with the ghost movie tropes to bring a dry and funny story of a dysfunctional friendship. I hope the Clay Tatum and Whitmer Thomas team goes on to do bigger things. Whitmer Thomas for Joker

This was pretty good. Holds your interest throughout. At times it is quite clever, and the tone is consistently entertaining. A fun watch. If the filmmakers had come up with a better ending it would have helped the overall impact.

This movie was great. The writing style was different but well played. All together great movie and the “ghost” was sweet to see. Loved it, hope it does well at the awards!

The flick is hilarious, peculiar, and surprisingly thought provoking. Often, the ghost is the antagonist and the person they communicate with is the protagonist. But the ghost is in purgatory and has no idea what to do with himself. He is of no harm to the person who can see him. The man who can see him, tries to understand, but is untrusting and hostile towards the ghost. That is what really stood out different from other ghost movies. For me, there were the themes of loneliness, existentialism, and fear. I recommend this movie as it provides both entertainment and substance.

The Civil Dead takes the bones of a ghost story and spits out a dark indie comedy with a surprisingly sinister twist.

MOVIE REVIEW The Civil Dead – Genre: Comedy Year Released: 2023 Runtime: 1h 44m Director(s): Clay Tatum Writer(s): Clay Tatum, Whitmer Thomas Cast: Clay Tatum, Whitmer Thomas, Whitney Weir, Budd Diaz, Anna Seregina, Chris Thayer, Robert Longstreet, DeMorge Brown, Christian Lee Hutson, Teresa Lee, Anthony Oberbeck Where To Watch: Available on demand February 17, 2023 RAVING REVIEW: THE CIVIL DEAD is a haunting and quirky film that explores the themes of loneliness and communication. This is a unique experience from an exceptional team; there's no question as to the heart that was put behind the creation. Without question, this is a comedy for a specific audience. Clay, an introverted photographer living in Los Angeles, after some "gentle" nudging from his wife Whitney, embarks on a journey of capturing life through his lens and trying to make a living in a gig economy. During this journey, Clay encounters his old high school friend Whit, who throws the entire film into a spiral I wasn't expecting. The "horror" in THE CIVIL DEAD arises from the social awkwardness that ensues as Clay tries to separate himself from the awkward relationship with Whit. The film has its brand of dark humor that, while quirky and enjoyable, may not be everyone's cup of tea. However, Clay and Whit's witty and sharp dialogue keeps the audience engaged. The performances by the actors are noteworthy, but the screenplay could have used some sprucing up to bring out their full potential. There is no doubt about the chemistry between the cast (almost as though some have been lifelong friends.) Production-wise, THE CIVIL DEAD shines as a low-budget indie film and a promising feature debut for writer/director Clay Tatum. The writing shines through with the witty combination of Tatum and Thomas, bringing their unique style to the screen. In conclusion, THE CIVIL DEAD is a haunting, quirky "horror" comedy with an ending that may leave you with more questions than answers (which isn't necessarily bad.) The uneasy friendship between Clay and Whit creates a world that takes the typical story like this and flips it on its head. Despite its flaws, it is a one-of-a-kind and unusual cinematic experience worth checking out. For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews Follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews. I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

Started out on the right foot but took a turn that I found extremely disturbing