Didn’t Pass Away - Review of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival

      Didn’t Die, 2025.

      Directed by Meera Menon.

      Featuring Kiran Deol, George Basil, Samrat Chakrabarti, Katie McCuen, Ali Lopez-Sohaili, Kandis Fay, Rupak Ginn, Rachna Khatau, Jhanelle Elissa, Vishal Vijayakumar, and August Redd.

      SYNOPSIS:

      As the zombie apocalypse spreads, a podcast host fights to keep her shrinking audience engaged amid the turmoil. One might read the plot synopsis for co-writer and director Meera Menon’s Didn’t Die and mistakenly think it’s a dark, possibly satirical comedy about self-absorption, given that it revolves around a podcaster trying to retain her listeners while a zombie apocalypse drastically reduces her potential audience. However, the film leans less toward comedy and more on how a social media platform like podcasting can foster connections during an apocalypse, offering advice and mutual support.

      The protagonist, Vaneeta (Kiran Deol, effective in the role with a voice well-suited for podcasting), ventures out during the day, scavenging alongside her anxious brother (who has yet to kill a zombie). She puts up flyers to organize a live podcast recording. One might expect this scenario to be a pivotal moment filled with drama, but it quickly unravels when zombies start appearing during daylight and invade the recording space. This incident serves as a catalyst for Vaneeta to reconnect with her ex-boyfriend (George Basil), who has found a baby and is seeking someone to take care of it.

      Subsequently, everyone returns to Vaneeta’s childhood home, where another sibling lives with their partner and has a different outlook on surviving the apocalypse. Here, the focus shifts from podcasting to exploring Vaneeta’s relationship with her ex. Consequently, Didn’t Die often misses its potential, although the characters are relatable enough to keep the audience engaged. The film culminates in some typical zombie violence (with black-and-white cinematography likely intended to disguise the less convincing special effects), which feels lackluster due to the relatively shallow character development.

      This premise has potential for a compelling zombie apocalypse film, but the filmmakers struggle to make it the narrative's focal point, letting more clichéd elements overshadow the intriguing podcasting idea. Additionally, Didn’t Die isn’t a conventional horror film, so those anticipating a typical Midnight label experience from Sundance should adjust their expectations. Overall, it’s somewhat disappointing in what it ultimately delivers. During the live podcast meet-up, several listeners share different relatable stories about their experiences in the apocalypse, emphasizing the theme of connection. Unfortunately, the film frustratingly narrows its focus to a single family, rather than exploring a diverse array of listeners and the central podcast.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He serves as the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd.