‘They’re dying to be his friend’
The Loneliest Boy in the World is a 2022 British comedy horror film presented as a modern fairytale – with zombies. A satire and a celebration of family values, the imagery of horror films, suburban life, the American Dream and the ultimate taboo; death.
Directed by Martin Owen (The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud; Killers Anonymous; Let’s Be Evil; L.A. Slasher) from a screenplay written by Piers Ashworth (Blithe Spirit).
The movie stars Max Harwood, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Susan Wokoma, Evan Ross, Ben Miller, Ashley Benson and Jacob Sartorius.
Release:
The Loneliest Boy in the World is available On-Demand (VOD). Rent or buy via Amazon Prime
In the US, Well Go USA will release the film on Blu-ray and DVD on December 20, 2022.
Plot:
When the sheltered and unsocialized Oliver (Max Harwood) is tasked with making new friends after the sudden and devastating death of his mother, he decides that digging a few up (literally) might be his best bet. However, when he awakens the morning after his excavating escapades, he discovers that his newly acquired friends have mysteriously come to life overnight, launching them all into a series of misadventures as they try to keep their secret safe from neighbours, bullies, and social workers alike…
Reviews:
“The Loneliest Boy in the World is a fairy tale that uses the sitcom format to satirize the nuclear family while offering the protagonist a chance for growth through escapism. It is a charming story that tells a straightforward plot with mainly expected beats. The delightful zombie comedy is an amusing way of dealing with death.” All Horror
“The Loneliest Boy in the World tells a straightforward fairy tale, with plot beats mainly unfolding as expected. It’s a simple yet charming story that uses the sitcom format to satirize the nuclear family while offering the protagonist a chance for growth through escapism. The cute zombie comedy makes for an on-the-nose means of coping with death.” 3/5, Bloody Disgusting
“The Loneliest Boy in the World is so bizarre yet so heartfelt, as you can’t help but feel for Oliver and his plight. Some people just have really bad luck and when coupled with a mental illness, it doesn’t bode well. It’s part coming-of-age tale, part dark horror comedy. It exists in a heightened reality that once you accept, you will become truly immersed with.” Bloody Flicks
There are always fantasy-driven horror films that walk a fine line between hideous and cute. The Loneliest Boy in the World falls into that category. While not big on the horror elements per se this is for sure a film you could watch with multiple age groups. The Loneliest Boy in the World is a whimsical fairytale and a great change up from most of the films out currently. 3/5, Horror Movies Uncut
“Amongst all the fun, there are heartfelt moments that portray trauma and it’s resulting mental health issues. This is done in a delicate manner and explains a lot of the goings-on. A well thought out zombie film that I found to be quite original…” Horror Screams Video Vault
“Injecting this powerful element of magical realism, the script from Piers Ashworth (whose own Blithe Spirit dealt with similar life-after-death themes in a hilarious manner) elevates The Loneliest Boy in the World into memorable, whimsical, almost Beetlejuice-esque territory.” 4.5/5, Josh at the Movies
“The humor, when it shows up, comes from the incongruity of zombies sharing sweet family dinners, father-son chats, and Mitch the cool older zombie-friend advising Oliver on how to talk to girls […] Not enough happens in The Loneliest Boy in the World. There’s not enough conflict. The film relies too heavily on cliché and hopes the audience won’t notice.” RogerEbert.com
” …a big-hearted zombie fairy tale with obvious Tim Burton influence and references to other films, including a blatant nod to Weekend at Bernie’s, which ultimately is its own offbeat beast. With gorgeous art direction and fine performances, led by a delightfully quirky performance by Harwood as the oddball everyman protagonist, The Loneliest Boy in the World is a charming, waggish watch.” 4/5, The Scariest Things
“Owen and Ashworth never really find the comedy in Oliver’s particular situation, that living with a family of decomposing strangers sure can be abnormal […] That kind of one-note humor’s never taken far enough, so “The Loneliest Boy in the World” mostly bobs along without incident, never challenging viewers’ assumptions nor giving us much to sink our teeth into.” The Wrap
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