Sundance Movie Competition 2025 Evaluation: Zombie Dramedy Did not Die

Simply once you assume filmmakers have exhausted each potential tackle zombies, a brand new film comes alongside to remind you that there are nonetheless fresh stories ready to creep out of the grave. An io9 review mentioned practically the identical factor about Dealing with the Undead, which performed the Sundance Movie Competition in 2024—and 2025’s at the moment underway occasion has a equally offbeat zombie story in Didn’t Die.

Set two years after an unspecified outbreak reworked a lot of the inhabitants into “biters,” Didn’t Die introduces us to Vinita (a charismatic Kiran Deol), whose principal coping mechanism is creating her “podcast”—which is definitely broadcast over the radio, since there’s no web within the post-apocalypse. She dwells inside a tough shell crafted largely of sarcasm; it’s allowed her to face her dystopian new actuality with an upbeat spirit, although she additionally clings to the comforting information that whereas her dad and mom could be out of the image, her brothers are nonetheless an enormous a part of her life.

After time spent touring round interviewing fellow survivors for the podcast, which can also be titled Didn’t Die, Vinita and youthful brother Rish (Vishal Vijayakumar) have returned to their hometown, extra particularly to their childhood dwelling, to stick with older brother Hari (Samrat Chakrabarti) and his spouse, Barbara (Katie McCuen). They’re doomsday-prepped in that they seemingly have loads of meals stockpiled, and their existence feels comparatively safe, all issues thought of.

The comfortable established order will get a shake-up when Vinita’s much-despised ex Vincent (George Basil) exhibits up with a child—not his, however a foundling spared when her household was killed. That requires some awkward adjusting, however there’s additionally one other, extra pressing shift in circumstances: biters, which had been previously strictly nocturnal, have developed and are actually rising within the daylight.

Most of Didn’t Die is filmed in black and white, echoing again to George Romero’s Evening of the Dwelling Lifeless—the grandaddy of zombie movies that’s additionally referenced right here by naming a personality Barbara, and by having a lot of the motion happen in an remoted nation home. However whereas Evening of the Dwelling Lifeless targeted on a gaggle of strangers who should frantically work collectively to outlive, all whereas not likely understanding what they’re up in opposition to, Didn’t Die digs into the emotional toll of an ongoing catastrophe, as skilled by a household that won’t at all times agree on technique, however shares a deep love.

Didn’t Die‘s script, by director Meera Menon and co-writer Paul Gleason, attracts inspiration from the real-life pandemic, particularly the big selection of reactions it pulled out of individuals. For Rish, it’s concern; Hari is overly protecting; Vincent chooses self-isolation; Barbara takes a sudden curiosity in crafting; and Vinita turns into fixated on her podcast—although even she admits “No person instructed me the apocalypse was gonna be so boring.”

Dwelling within the dwelling the place they grew up, the siblings can’t assist however slip again into nostalgia, which Didn’t Die illustrates with gauzy, comfortable flashbacks. However regardless of fleeting moments of pleasure in lockdown, there are literal monsters prowling round outdoors, and as Vinita herself tells her listeners, it’s vital to stay for the longer term, moderately than wallowing in reminiscences of what can by no means be once more.

Although it doesn’t ship many outright frights, Didn’t Die does an admirable job of capturing the unease of “unprecedented occasions,” with a very eerie sound design that conveys the ambient night-time noise of hungry howls from each route. The characters have turn out to be used to it after listening to it for therefore lengthy, nevertheless it’s freaky all the identical. Didn’t Die additionally, maybe surprisingly, has doses of humor sprinkled all through, with welcome moments that preserve the characters’ monochromatic world from feeling too gloomy.

Didn’t Die premiered on the 2025 Sundance Movie Competition; it doesn’t but have a launch date.

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