Handling the Undead

Unrated

4/23/20241h 38m

Premiere Release (US)

Overview:

On a hot summer day in Oslo, the dead mysteriously awaken, and three families are thrown into chaos when their deceased loved ones come back to them. Who are they, and what do they want?

Director:

Thea Hvistendahl

Status:

Released

Language:

Norwegian

Buget:

$5,141,025.00

Revenue:

$105,046.00

Key words:

based on novel or book
cemetery
loss
grief
zombie
car accident
death
death of mother
death of son
woman director
oslo, norway
animal cruelty
death of wife
grieving mother
death of grandson

Cast

Renate Reinsve

~ as ~

Anna

Anders Danielsen Lie

~ as ~

David

Bahar Pars

~ as ~

Eva

Bjørn Sundquist

~ as ~

Mahler

Denise Trankalis

~ as ~

Solglimt Colleague

Bente Børsum

~ as ~

Tora

Jan Hrynkiewicz

~ as ~

Peter

Olga Damani

~ as ~

Elisabet

John Ajvide Lindqvist

~ as ~

Undertaker

Inesa Dauksta

~ as ~

Flora

View full cast & crew

Reviews (3)

JJ Gonzalez
Written 1 year(s) ago
6
A bleak and somewhat beautiful piece, “Handling the Undead” had my curiosity the moment it was announced. The first act was great though, with a haunting and mesmerizing score, which is consistent throughout the film. The ending is BIZARRE though, and is haunting as well. Unfortunately, it drags throughout the middle, and the protagonists act about as human as the zombies. Have no idea how they managed to waste Renate.
M
MovieGuys
Written 1 year(s) ago
4
Given how much I enjoyed Let the Right one In, I had high hopes for Norwegian production, Handling the Undead. Hopes that were slowly eroded, over the course of this film.

Yes, I could talk about this being haunting and meaningful, on a vague and nebulous level but I wont. In reality, this essentially is a slow burn zombie film with an outcome no different from any other zombie flick. The key departure is this film is maudlin, lacks pace, an underlying meaning and is generally, downright depressing.

I could have rated this down further but there is nothing wrong with the quality of the acting, cinematography, etc, its the underlying script, for me, that doesn't work.

In summary, whilst Let the Right One in was amazing, I felt this is its antithesis. Without beating around the bush, trying to unearth some hidden meaning, in this reviewers opinion, its simply crummy. My advice, if you like zombie flicks, most are better than this.
Horseface
Written 1 year(s) ago
1
Even at four times speed (MX Player won't play faster), it's excruciatingly slow. At least you get a few laughs, because a two-minute shot of an old guy walking looks hilarious in quadruple speed, or a three-minute trumpet solo or weeping session for the camera sounds tear-inducingly funny.

I like slow movies with long shots when there's a script and a point to it, but this is just toe-cringingly pathetic and pretentious with zero talent or story to back it up.

What a boring clown show. It also looks like poop. 90% of scenes have grays instead of blacks (even a scene where the entire power grid is down, and it's supposed to be pitch dark), and it looks like someone made an analog copy of a copy of a copy, dragged it through mud, and then scanned it.

On the upside, it's time for bed, I've been having trouble falling asleep lately, but right now I'm almost nodding off while writing this.