Guilt Demon

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In the semi-autobiographical war drama “My Dead Friend Zoe,” directed by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, we find Natalie Morales and Sonequa Martin-Green as the lead characters, along with Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. The story revolves around U.S. Army veteran Merit Charles (played by Sonequa Martin-Green), who grapples with a heavy sense of guilt and PTSD. As she withdraws into solitude and manages her daily life, Merit encounters visions of her deceased friend Zoe (portrayed by Natalie Morales), whom she served alongside in Afghanistan. Although Zoe provides comfort and companionship in Merit’s isolated existence, her presence also symbolizes the mysterious guilt and anguish that keeps Merit trapped in the past.

The movie includes scenes set in Afghanistan’s past, depicting intense and occasionally conflict-filled interactions between the two female characters while they were in the military together. In an interview with MovieWeb, Natalie Morales discussed managing the subtle distinctions between flashback Zoe and regular Zoe, as well as finding the right balance between humor and toxicity within the character. MovieWeb also inquired about her thoughts on Dead Zoe being referred to as a “guilt demon.

The role was difficult for me as I wasn’t portraying a human character in many aspects, which meant my motivations didn’t align with the character. It felt like trying to understand what drives Merit’s guilt, why it keeps her there, and what strategies it will employ to do so while hiding behind a cloak of familiarity, warmth, humor, and amusement.

Natalie Morales Talks Playing Three Versions of the Same Character in ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’

Guided by director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, a U.S. military veteran, the narrative of “My Dead Friend Zoe” is shaped around three distinct portrayals of Zoe: the Zoe from Afghanistan times, the post-Army Zoe, and the deceased Zoe. In the intricate character of Dead Zoe, Morales focuses on the concept that her character manipulates Merit into maintaining a mental state that’s detrimental to her wellbeing.

In simpler terms, Morales explained to MovieWeb that the various strategies were like ‘Let’s just stay home and watch movies,’ or ‘let’s do this,’ or ‘let’s have some fun,’ or ‘I’ll make a joke to stay here.’ She described these tactics as a comforting yet restrictive blanket, with sharp edges. This blanket, she said, doesn’t allow for enjoyment or freedom, and it symbolizes people’s complicated relationship with guilt. Morales further added that Dead Zoe is not an entirely accurate portrayal of the real Zoe, which is why she is depicted as a guilt demon in the series.

[Dead Zoe] represents a distorted image of Merit in Merit’s mind, so it’s not an accurate portrayal of who she truly is. It’s more like fragments assembled to give Merit a sense of familiarity, despite the fact that this comfort isn’t beneficial for her and can sometimes be hurtful.

Zoe may appear strong and resilient, but her alternative selves exhibit greater sensitivity, for it’s evident that she is battling personal struggles within herself.

Morales stated, “I wished the genuine Zoe character was far more exposed than this on-screen persona. By the end of the film, you’ll understand why it was essential for her to be that way, why they differed significantly. It was captivating for me to portray these different characters – approximately three. One is from her military service, another is post-service, and then there’s a guilt-ridden Zoe.

Catch all three versions of her in My Dead Friend Zoe, in U.S. theaters starting on Feb. 28, 2025.

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2025-03-01 05:37