The Civil Dead

Play trailer

The Civil Dead

2023

1h 44m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Clay is a loner photographer who enjoys a mundane life with his artist wife Whitney in Los Angeles. Whitney advises Clay, who has been creatively stagnant and unemployed for months, to go out and be productive while she's out of town and not to "just lay in the living room and drink beer." While taking photos out in a park, Clay happens upon his long-lost friend, Whit. After a night of catching up, Whit discloses an unsettling secret to Clay, which puts a strain on his marriage and causes him to question his own sanity.

Watch on Prime Video

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

With a satisfying blend of humor and melancholy, The Civil Dead finds creative partners Clay Tatum and Whitmer Thomas taking a haunting look at the pitfalls of friendship.

Read Critics Reviews

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Jan 21, 2024

3/5

A shambling, mordant mumblecore-style comedy, The Civil Dead deftly balances the understated humour of discomfort...

Go to Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jan 15, 2024

3/5

It is shruggingly deadpan and throwaway, but with a real satirical point and it is genuinely and unexpectedly bleak.

Go to Full Review

Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Feb 21, 2023

3/5

At its dead but lively heart, it's an awkward buddy comedy, with real-life friends, collaborators, and co-writers Thomas and Tatum bouncing off each other with a laid-back, laconic yet vulnerable vibe.

Go to Full Review

Anya Couture

Geek Vibes Nation

Jul 26, 2025

8/10

The Civil Dead is often funny and timidly whack-a-doodle, but shows how maliciously the selfish human spirit can emerge when the terms of a relationship change.

Go to Full Review

Aaron Murray

Loud and Clear Reviews

Aug 4, 2024

3.5/5

The Civil Dead quickly makes it clear that at the film’s core is a strange and unique story that tastefully examines a surreal premise with a dose of the mundane.

Go to Full Review

Kevin Wight

The Wee Review

Feb 28, 2024

2

Its meandering narrative is too threadbare to really connect

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Chip C

@Wookiee717 Apr 29, 2025

Started strong. Fizzled out over time. I don't know what was more unrealistic, the main premise, or Clay's reactions to his old friend.

See more

Michael M

@LagansLove Feb 19, 2025

I dont understand how this is categorized as a comedy. Very tedious.

See more

Jeffrey C

@RT63520602 Jan 19, 2025

No spoilers. I'm stunned at how positive all the reviews are. The reason I chose to watch it was because of so many high reviews. But the humor level is a 1. The story depth is a 1. It was hard to stay awake through it as it was so slow moving. Super low budget. Very amateur actors. 20 minutes of the movie have to be of people sleeping or sitting and not talking. Clerks movie was better acted. The audio is difficult to hear. I was waiting for it to have some twists or get some level of interesting storyline. It never happened.

See more

Alec B

@Alec97 Mar 4, 2024

There's a very interesting core idea here about aimless 30 somethings haunting each other, I just wish that the narrative wasn't as equally aimless.

See more

Jared S

@RT52749751 Jul 18, 2023

Toys with the ghost movie tropes to bring a dry and funny story of a dysfunctional friendship. I hope the Clay Tatum and Whitmer Thomas team goes on to do bigger things. Whitmer Thomas for Joker

See more

Ravenswood R

@RT16435246 Jul 6, 2023

This was pretty good. Holds your interest throughout. At times it is quite clever, and the tone is consistently entertaining. A fun watch. If the filmmakers had come up with a better ending it would have helped the overall impact.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Clay Tatum

Director

Clay Tatum

Clay

Whitmer Thomas

Whit

Whitney Weir

Actor

Budd Diaz

Budd

Robert Longstreet

Arnold

I Love My Dad

75%

83%

I Love My Dad

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I Love My Dad

A Little White Lie

35%

77%

A Little White Lie

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Little White Lie

Dotty & Soul

40%

68%

Dotty & Soul

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Dotty & Soul

Four Samosas

64%

81%

Four Samosas

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Four Samosas

Funny Pages

82%

50%

Funny Pages

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Funny Pages

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Clay is a loner photographer who enjoys a mundane life with his artist wife Whitney in Los Angeles. Whitney advises Clay, who has been creatively stagnant and unemployed for months, to go out and be productive while she's out of town and not to "just lay in the living room and drink beer." While taking photos out in a park, Clay happens upon his long-lost friend, Whit. After a night of catching up, Whit discloses an unsettling secret to Clay, which puts a strain on his marriage and causes him to question his own sanity.

Director: Clay Tatum
Producer: Kasandra Baruch, Mike Marasco, Clay Tatum, Whitmer Thomas
Screenwriter: Clay Tatum, Whitmer Thomas
Distributor: Utopia
Production Co: Damned Distribution, Utopia
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 3, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2023
Runtime: 1h 44m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings