‘Some relationships just won’t die’
Burying the Ex is a 2014 comedy horror film directed by Joe Dante (Piranha – 1978; The Howling; Gremlins and its sequel; The Hole) from a screenplay by Alan Trezza, based on his 2008 short film of the same name. It stars Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene, Alexandra Daddario, and Oliver Cooper.
Max (Anton Yelchin), an all-around nice guy, and his overbearing but incredibly beautiful girlfriend, Evelyn (Ashely Greene). Their relationship takes a nosedive after they decide to move in together and Evelyn turns out to be a controlling, manipulative nightmare.
Max realizes it’s time to call it quits, but there’s just one problem: he’s too afraid to break up with her. Fate steps in when Evelyn is involved in a freak accident and dies, leaving Max single and ready to mingle.
Several weeks later, he has a chance encounter with Olivia (Alexandra Daddario), a cute and spirited girl who just might be his soul mate.
But that same night, Evelyn returns from the grave as a dirt-smeared zombie and she’s determined to live happily ever after with Max …
Reviews:
“There’s just enough blood on screen to keep gorehounds happy without turning off those who came primarily for the comedy or a little romance and the film switches gears between genres with Dante’s customary ease, even if none of it goes particularly deep. Much of the film’s humor is, of course, derived from death-related puns and wordplay…” The Hollywood Reporter
“Along the way are a spare handful of amusing comic riffs … and gross-out gags (none grosser than the oral expulsion of embalming fluid), but at just 89 minutes, there hardly seems enough material to fill the time. Watching two intelligent, attractive women fight to the death (or, well, beyond) over the dubiously worthy prize of Max is about as dramatically compelling as it is socially and sexually progressive.” Variety
“What we get here is not a reinvention, nor a reinterpretation, it’s the wholesale reanimation of something that had been buried for a long while. Like the shambling zombie corpse it is, initially we’re glad to see it come back to life, but pretty soon, for all its puns and Val Lewton references, it starts to decompose.” The Playlist
Cast and characters:
Anton Yelchin … Max
Ashley Greene … Evelyn
Alexandra Daddario … Olivia
Oliver Cooper … Travis
Dick Miller … Crusty Old Cop
Archie Hahn … Chuck
Julia Marchese … Disgruntled Customer
Wyndoline Landry … Goth Girl #1 / Demetria
Mary Kate Wiles … Goth Girl #2
Mark Alan … Bartender
Ozioma Akagha … Kat
Stephanie Koenig … Kendra
Katie Roberts … FHM Centerfold (as Katie Ross)
John Hora … Grumpy Customer
Gabrielle Christian … Coco
Technical details:
89 minutes
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Release:
This ArtImage Entertainment/Scooty Woop Entertainment/Act 4 Entertainment film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2014.
Burying the Ex was released theatrically in the United States on June 19, 2015.
