The Dead Thing is a 2024 horror film about a young woman who is lost in a series of meaningless connections and falls in love with a charismatic and sensitive man. Unfortunately, a dark secret turns her affair into a dangerous obsession.
Elric Kane directed the movie from a screenplay co-written with Webb Wilcoxen. It was produced by Matt Mercer, Star Rosencrans, Webb Wilcoxen and Monte Yazzie and executive-produced by Rebekah McKendry.
The Rubric Pictures production stars Blu Hunt, Katherine Hughes, Ben Smith-Petersen, John Karna, Brennan Mejia, Emily Joy Lemus, Joey Millin, Josh Marble, Aerial Washington and Sally Sum.
Reviews:
“Director Elric Kane sets a tone of edgy eroticism that immediately captures our attention. He keeps the film lean and efficient, including no unnecessary scenes or belabored points. Kane also has a perfect lead. Blu Hunt (The New Mutants) delivers a performance that deserves to make her a star.” The Aisle Seat
“The Dead Thing is a subtle horror dissecting the modern dating scene, depression, and toxic relationships. It’s beautiful, capturing the addicting allure of finding someone you resonate with, for better or worse. Even with its plot issues towards the latter half, there’s a lot that will linger in the viewer’s mind about the cycles we lead and how sometimes it’s almost inescapable despite our best efforts.” Creepy Kingdom
“The Dead Thing may suggest something lifeless and voided of a pulse, but thanks to Wilcoxen and Kane, it manages to create the exact opposite of what the title suggests, lead by performances which resonate with the audience. While the premise of the film is certainly something that plagues modern dating, the supernatural elements and chaos that ensues is what breaks the complete reality and allows the audience to sulk in the chaotic unfolding’s that present themselves.” ★★★★ Elements of Madness
“The two leads are excellent, with notably impressive support from John Karna, who arrives halfway through and goes on to deliver what is perhaps the film’s most overtly horrific moment. Hunt has a wonderful liveliness about her which is much more interesting than mere beauty. It’s easy to see how she could not just grab but hold onto somebody’s attention, and this quality also gives us a stronger sense of what’s at stake.” ★★★★ Eye for Film
“The film isn’t cynical about online dating/dating apps, it’s realistic, and uses the figure of the ghost to help explore how the search for love can, sometimes, be fraught with terrors. Kane actually seems to touch on the fragility of all sorts of relationships, whether on- or offline. While The Dead Thing is not a direct adaptation of anything—despite the fact the film is billed as a “neo–realist take on an Invisible Man story“—it feels pulled right out of a book from another time…” ★★★★½ Father Son Holy Gore
“The Dead Thing ultimately feels compelled towards violence. It’s a sad inevitably, although one framed with just enough of a genre buffer to never register as heavy-handed, even if it is a little trite […] A genuine one-of-a-kind indie that uses its horror both deftly and sparingly and leads with an incredibly exciting central performance from an electric new talent in Blu Hunt.” ★★★★ HeyUGuys
“The Dead Thing is a subtle horror dissecting modern dating, depression, and toxic relationships. An oddly fun and dysfunctional first-date film that puts together modern themes of loneliness. Despite all the power to communicate, often many don’t listen. Sometimes one communicates with something you do not want and takes you into a new realm of romantic terror. For better or for worse it is still a ‘strange passion’ and we all have had our heartstrings played by someone who later turns out to be tone-deaf.” ★★★ Horror DNA
“Hunt does terrific work as a young woman feeling, and to some extent wanting to be, disconnected from the world, and John Karna provides a super supporting turn as Alex’s new coworker. A gripping study on alienation and toxic partners, The Dead Thing may have some pacing issues but overall comes recommended as a stirring watch that will certainly make many viewers feel highly uncomfortable.” Horror Fuel
“It’s a fresh take on supernatural romance, with a topical spotlight on toxicity – on the one hand, Alex is in a downward spiral (there’s a backstory about how her friendship with Cara has become strained) swiping on commitment-phobic guys … on the other, Kyle’s physical rot as a ghost is paralleled by his all-consuming, controlling, dangerous selfishness. It’s a tight, claustrophobic film which leaves key incidents offscreen and doesn’t overdo the horrors…” The Kim Newman Web Site
“The Dead Thing is a film that begins as a romance and steadily progresses into supernatural horror. Even though the turn is somewhat easy to predict, I still believe that The Dead Thing is a film that is best experienced by knowing as few specific details as possible. At the very least, I can say that the film gives a whole new meaning to the term ghosting.” ★★★★ Sean Kelly on Movies
“Many of its horrors may ultimately be age-old, but this parable of modern loneliness has more than enough brilliant, unsettling and resonant moments along the way. And, hey, perhaps we’re ready for this kind of limbo – the location for which almost, almost made me smile – and for the terrifying blackness pressing in on its edges, which didn’t make me smile once.” Warped Perspective
“This was a supernatural love story with shades of The Invisible Man and reminiscent of Fatal Attraction, in that Kyle will not be ignored! If you’re in the mood for something crazy, sexy, suspenseful and twisty this is one to watch.” 7/10 Well Worth a Read
Release date:
February 14, 2025, on Shudder.
Trailer:
Coming soon
Technical specs:
1 hour 34 minutes
