[Sundance 2024] HANDLING THE UNDEAD -- Sluggish Zombie Drama Wastes Stacked Cast

Review by Sean Boelman

An existential zombie movie from the writer of one of the most humanistic horror movies of the century and starring one of the most exciting new stars of the decade might sound paradisiacal to many cinephiles. While Handling the Undead has an intriguing premise and lots of potential due to the talent involved in the film, it ends up feeling too lethargic to be particularly engaging.

The movie follows three families who go through a flurry of emotions when a bizarre signal causes migraines and brings the dead back to life, including their loved ones. Based on a book by John Akvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In), this is clearly meant to be another meditative spin on familiar monster tropes, but it is far less effective.

Handling the Undead is weighed down by pacing that is extremely slow. And while a slow burn can often be effective, the moments of excitement in this are so sporadic and few that it fails to draw viewers in. Director Thea Hvistendahl creates a fittingly eerie atmosphere, but creepiness alone is not enough to carry the film.

One of the most frustrating things about Handling the Undead is that it attempts to juggle so many storylines. Although any of the three storylines would have been compelling on their own, cutting between them prevents the viewer from ever getting fully immersed in the movie — or feeling the emotional impact it could have had. However, this is a consequence of shortening a book that’s nearly 400 pages into a movie that’s only 97 minutes long.

It is a shame that the film feels overstuffed, as some truly brilliant performers are in the cast. The movie serves as a “reunion” of sorts for The Worst Person in the World co-stars Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielsen-Lie. (However, marketing it as such is a bit of a misnomer, as the duo are in completely separate storylines.) Yet, despite the cast having so much talent, they don’t get to do anything because of how thin the script is.

The film does have a lot to say, particularly about the topics of grief and moving on. However, it’s not particularly rewarding or enriching, and it’s hard to recommend sitting through such a slog to get to a purposefully vague and frustrating ending. You have to admire the movie for its ambition and taking such a radically different approach to its genre, but it doesn’t always work.

Handling the Undead does have some very impressive technical aspects. The cinematography by Pål Ulvik Rokseth is stunning — almost transfixing enough to make up for how uninteresting the script can sometimes be. Also of note is the makeup work, which is often fantastic, such as the design of the undead son of Reinsve’s character.

With the caliber of talent involved in Handling the Undead, both in front of and behind the camera, this should have been absolutely incredible. Unfortunately, sluggish pacing and a thin and disorganized narrative prevent the film from making the impact it could have had. Still, those who do watch the movie will enjoy its visual magnificence.

Handling the Undead screened at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, which ran January 18-28 in-person in Park City, UT and online from January 25-28.

​Rating: 2.5/5