#handling the undead

[gael-garcia]

Handling the Undead (2024), dir. Thea Hvistendahl

[sesiondemadrugada]

Handling the Undead (Thea Hvistendahl, 2024).

[oldfilmsflicker]

new-to-me #142 - Håndtering av udøde (Handling the Undead)

[creepynostalgy]

Håndtering Av Udøde aka Handling The Undead (2024)

[trendfilmsetter]

First look at NEON’s HANDLING THE UNDEAD directed by Thea Hvistendahl.

Starring Renate Reinsve and Anders Danielson Lie

The film follows three families who are thrown into chaos when their deceased loved ones come back to them.

Releasing in theaters May 31st

[tinyreviews]

Tiny Review: Handling The Dead 2024. Super dull.

It feels like a thin cross between Skinnamarink and Manchester By The Sea. Definitely not a zombie movie. Nor horror. Nor a drama.  

Very niche. No story at all. Just an unresolved premise.

Handling the Undead is a 2024 Norwegian horror mystery film, directed by Thea Hvistendahl from a screenplay by Hvistendahl and John Ajvide Lindqvist, based upon the novel of the same name by Lindqvist. It stars Renate Reinsve, Bjørn Sundquist, Bente Børsum, Anders Danielsen Lie, Bahar Pars and Inesa Dauksta.

[fearsmagazine]

HANDLING THE UNDEAD - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: NEON

SYNOPSIS: In the sweltering heat of a summer in Oslo, the deceased unexpectedly awaken, plunging three families into disarray as their beloved departed ones return. Questions arise about their identities and intentions. One family grapples with the resurrection of their mother, a sudden revival before they had the chance to grieve her tragic passing in a car accident. On the same day she buries her soulmate, an elderly woman is reunited with the love of her life. In a desperate attempt to alleviate his daughter’s depression, a grandfather rescues his grandchild from the clutches of the grave.

REVIEW: John Ajvide Lindqvist's literary career took off with the publication of his debut novel, "Let the Right One In," in Sweden in 2004. This acclaimed work was later adapted into a film with the same title, released in 2008. In 2010, an American remake of the film was produced, followed by an American television series that premiered on Showtime in 2022.

John Ajvide Lindqvist's second novel, "Handling the Undead," was released in 2005, followed by a short story collection in 2006 entitled "Let the Old Dreams Die." One of the tales in this collection was set in the same universe as “Let the Right One In” and one in “Handling the Undead.”

As a fervent admirer of the film "Let the Right One In," I was immediately drawn to the novel when an English translation became available. When I learned that English translations of "Handling the Undead" and "Let the Old Dreams Die" were released in the United Kingdom, I promptly acquired my personal editions.

As someone who grew up on the George Romero zombie canon and its subsequent impact on the genre, I found John Ajvide Lindqvist's take on the subject to be both engaging and refreshing. The narrative was primarily driven by the experiences of various families and the government's response to the unfolding crisis. He crafted a new contemporary metaphor in relation to what the undead represent to social structures and family dynamics.

The film's narrative is significantly less substantive from the novel, focusing more on the reactions of three families to the reanimation of their deceased loved ones. The cause of the undead rising is altered, and much of the dialogue and character development is simplified. The first 8 ½ minutes of the film features no spoken dialogue, except for musical lyrics, and little throughout the entirety of the film. A key element of the novel is the silent return of the dead to specific locations, presented in various states of decay. The film briefly explores the living coming to terms with the undead, their actions and little else. While the novel's events span several weeks, the film portrays them as occurring over a couple of days. Having read the novel, I noticed significant omissions in the adaptation that diminished its impact. Certain changes made to the storyline were a disservice to the novel and, consequently, weakened the film's overall effect. By the end of the film, the living characters appear as lifeless as the undead.

The film primarily relies on ambience created by masterful cinematography, sound design, and score. It employs a dark, cold visual style with a limited color palette. Tight framing dominates, except for a few wide shots that showcase the cemetery and hospital after the undead arrive. The film features few costume changes, which contributes to its lack of sense of passing time. The score is sparingly used and is often integrated with the sound design. I found the makeup design for the undead particularly impressive, as it achieves a realistic and organic look. The editing instills energy into the film, maintaining viewer engagement throughout its 97-minute runtime.

The cast was remarkable, conveying emotions primarily through facial expressions and body language due to limited dialogue. Bahar Pars, a talented actress, delivers a memorable scene toward the film's end, leaving a lasting impact with its intensity. Dennis Østby Ruud, a promising young actor, shines in his performance, as do the actresses portraying the elderly couple. Despite the limited material provided, the entire cast showcased their abilities admirably.

In her feature film debut, HANDLING THE UNDEAD, director Thea Hvistendahl presents a meditative exploration of grief and loss, capturing the impossible desire to turn the past into the present. The film immerses us in a profound sense of sorrow right from the start, and by the end, leaves a lingering feeling of hopelessness. While the film attempts to convey the emotional weight of the story, it falls short in comparison to John Ajvide Lindqvist's original novel. The film lacks depth in terms of character development and emotional range, making it difficult to fully appreciate the author's achievements in the novel. Despite its limitations, the film may still pique your curiosity, leading you to seek out Lindqvist's compelling and complex novel.

CAST: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Bjørn Sundquis, Bente Børsum, Bahar Pars, Dennis Østby Ruud, & Inesa Dauksta. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Thea Hvistendahl; Screenplay - John Ajvide Lindqvist; Based on the novel of the same title by John Ajvide Lindqvist; Producers - Kristin Emblem & Guri Neby; Cinematographer - Pål Ulvik Rokseth; Score - Peter Raeburn; Editors - Trude Lirhus & Thomas Grotmol; Production Designer - Linda Janson; Costume Designer - Bente Ulvik; Sound Designers - Bent Holm, Andreas Franck, & Nils Viken; Make-up Effect Designer - Morten Jacobsen; VFX Supervisor - Otto Thorbjørnsen; SFX - Fiksern / Christopher Munthe. OFFICIAL: neonrated.com/films/handling-the-undead FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/GFP8HtM8JTo?si=AO4gfwWZGXCjhQd- RELEASE DATE: Exclusively IFC Center NY May 31st & select cities June 7th, 2024.

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[kacic1]

A todos, boa noite! E hoje a noite é de arrepiar.

Hoje convido vocês a visitarem Os Filmes do Kacic, para conferir minha nova crítica sobre este intrigante horror estrelado por Renate Reinsve (A Pior Pessoa do Mundo), um dos destaques do Festival de Sundance deste ano, que discorre de maneira única sobre a temática dos zumbis. Imperdível para os fãs do gênero!

Crítica: DESCANSE EM PAZ (HANDLING THE UNDEAD) | 2024

[gebo4482]

HANDLING THE UNDEAD - Official Trailer

Dir: Thea Hvistendahl Star: Renate Reinsve / Anders Danielsen Lie / Bjørn Sundquist

[idepict]

Handling the Undead, a 2024 Norwegian horror mystery, is a compelling film directed by Thea Hvistendahl. Co-written by Hvistendahl and John Ajvide Lindqvist, who adapted his own novel for the screen, the film blends elements of horror with a profound exploration of grief and human connection.

[fleshengine]

So I watched Handling the Undead with my roomy and huh. I have no idea how to talk about it. It’s billed as a horror mystery film but it just isn’t. It’s not horrific. There’s horror elements, but that’s so not the focus. If I had to pin down something about it I’d say it’s a rumination on death, loss, and grief and there's zombies. I imagine it'd hit harder for someone who's had family members or people they care about die. I haven't, closest I've got is my mom flatlining on the table and then coming back when I practically a baby, and my grandad in the hospital just a few months ago. As it stands, it still hits hard and I nearly cried a couple times. So it's in the same vein of "zombie movie that makes you cry" as Cargo.

Overall, 9/10 the lighting, cinematography, acting and writing were all near perfect. There were a couple minor details that seemed sub par to me, but like… the movie is good.

[letterboxd-loggd]

Handling the Undead (Håndtering av udøde) (2024) Thea Hvistendahl

June 27th 2024

[pablolf]

Film Journal

"Handling the Undead" by Thea Hvistendahl

[elmakgoba]

[kristenswig]

#97. Handling the Undead - Thea Hvistendahl

3.5/5

[1day1movie]

Håndtering av udøde (Handling the Undead) (2024) Thea Hvistendahl.