DIDN'T DIE Mixes Zombies, Deadpan Comedy, and Chaos in a Surprisingly Fresh Way - Sundance Review
Didn’t Die is a fresh spin on the zombie genre, blending deadpan comedy with post-apocalyptic horror in a way I haven’t really seen before.
It’s not that the undead aren’t terrifying, they absolutely are, but the way the film plays with tone makes it unique. Instead of the usual bleak, survivalist desperation, there's a lightness to how some of the characters approach their crumbling world.
That contrast between dread and humor keeps things engaging, never letting the movie settle into one predictable rhythm.
The story unfolds through the perspective of Vinita (Kiran Deol), a podcast host documenting life in a world overrun by "biters." She travels, interviews survivors, and processes the chaos around her through the filter of her show.
It’s an interesting framing device that gives the film a unique voice. The dialogue has a casual, lived-in feel, and the characters interact in a way that feels natural rather than scripted.
It’s also refreshing to see a zombie movie lean into this kind of conversational storytelling, where the humor and horror exist side by side without undercutting each other.
Beyond the humor, the film builds a compelling world. Society has collapsed into chaos and it’s restructured in ways that feel oddly functional yet fragile. There are amusing and unexpected story beats, like a man trying to offload a baby he found after its parents were killed.
The film thrives on these kinds of moments that are odd and darkly funny. It keeps you on your toes, never quite knowing whether the next scene will be absurd, tense, or unexpectedly emotional.
Despite its deadpan humor, Didn’t Die doesn’t ignore the real dangers of its world. There are moments of intensity where characters are forced to fight for survival, grounding the story in real stakes. And as much as the film plays with tone, it knows when to settle into something more sincere.
By the end, after all the strange encounters and close calls, the film lands on a note that is both somber and refreshingly hopeful. A great conclusion to a story about finding connection, even in the end of days.