Handling the Undead: A Haunting Exploration of Grief and Terror

Zombies don’t have to be fast. In fact, the essence of zombies as a horror subgenre is best expressed as a feeling of creeping dread, the idea that something horrible is coming and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Executed properly, the slowness can actually enhance the terror, letting it sink into the viewer’s bones over long, breathless seconds.

The undead rising from their graves, a haunting sight

In “Handling the Undead,” Norwegian director Thea Hvistendahl’s feature debut, the slowness is not just a novelty but a deliberate choice that enhances the terror. The film is a drama with horror elements, built around three interwoven storylines that comprise a series of hushed tableaus. The cinematography is tastefully composed and elegantly shot, with very little dialogue and an overcast gray light that sets the tone for the entire film.

The premise is intriguing: what would realistically happen if the dead started coming back to life? Based on a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, whose “Let the Right One In” and “Border” take a similarly grounded approach to their supernatural elements, the film explores the reactions of characters to the freak electromagnetic event that returns their recently deceased loved ones to them.

A desperate character digs up a grave, hoping to reunite with the dead

The characters’ reactions are realistic, yet heartbreaking. When Mahler hears his dead grandson banging on the lid of his coffin, he doesn’t scream; he fetches a shovel and digs the boy up. When Elisabet gets out of her casket and wanders home to her partner Tora, Tora is shocked but happy to see her. And David is confused when a doctor tells him that his girlfriend Eva was dead, but now she isn’t.

A character embracing the undead, a mix of sadness and desperation

The film is absorbing, even captivating at times, thanks to the brittle emotion that permeates every scene. The pace may be measured, but it works to the film’s advantage when creating tension. Hvistendahl gets a lot of anticipatory mileage out of static shots of dark hallways, making the viewer feel like something is lurking just out of sight.

A dark hallway, full of tension and anticipation

While the film may have its slow moments, they are rare and don’t break the tonal spell that Hvistendahl has worked so hard to cast over her film. “Handling the Undead” is a haunting exploration of grief and terror, a zombie movie that will leave you feeling sad and uneasy long after the credits roll.

The undead in a dark forest, a haunting sight