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The Civil Dead

Play trailer Poster for 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.

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The Civil Dead

The Civil Dead

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 01/21/2024
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 01/15/2024
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 02/21/2023
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 07/26/2025
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 08/04/2024
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 02/28/2024
2
Its meandering narrative is too threadbare to really connect Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Chip C @Wookiee717 04/29/2025 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 02/19/2025 I dont understand how this is categorized as a comedy. Very tedious. See more Jeffrey C @RT63520602 01/19/2025 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 03/04/2024 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 07/18/2023 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 07/06/2023 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
The Civil Dead

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Cast & Crew

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Clay Tatum

Director

Clay Tatum

Clay

Whitmer Thomas

Whit

Whitney Weir

Actor

Budd Diaz

Budd

Robert Longstreet

Arnold

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The Civil Dead

The Civil Dead (2023) View more photos

Movie Info

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