‘The Dead Thing’ Review – Ghostly Thriller Leaves You Feeling Dead Inside

From the title alone, The Dead Thing, we know to expect a ghastly and ghostly affair. The film is as much a spooky tale as it is a commentary on the dating culture in the 21st century. Our overreliance on technology, instant communication, and gratification — is a bit much. The film is a shocking but hollow exploit that works to overwhelm its audience by sheer force and contemplation. Twists are clever, but the film lacks genuine suspense to engage casual viewers. One half meta-commentary, another half ghost story fails to deliver anything remotely interesting.

Alex (Blu Hunt) finds herself in the vortex of hook-ups and dating apps. Romance seems unobtainable until the dating app gods lead her to the perfect match. Kyle (Ben Smith-Petersen) is her ideal match, and the two spend a passionate night that goes nowhere. Kyle does more than ghost Alex but disappears. After seeing him with another girl, Alex becomes obsessed with getting to the bottom of her mystery man, only to discover a dire supernatural force. 

Through her investigation, Alex reconnects with Kyle and, in the process, discovers a supernatural secret. The dating app that connects them is the conduit to the whole affair. Working together, they descend into a whirlwind of obsession and infatuation with dire consequences. 

I will avoid spoilers to preserve the twists, but I will preface by saying that the ultimate surprise here is far from shocking. Even casual audiences will guess the plot’s turn from the start. That does not hamper the film but negates any real effect that might otherwise be felt as the story progresses. The dating app spurred a supernatural connection, bringing together these two fractured souls. The problem is the story never makes us care enough to see beyond the spectacle. 

The film works in tandem, presenting Alex and Kyle as they navigate the dating app scene. There is a well-crafted effort to introduce an ominous element, but we are never given much beyond flashy cuts and spooky flair. The film has a strong premise but can never flourish adequately, leaving us hollow and feeling ghosted. 

The movie illustrates the ease of connection and the absurdity of modern dating culture. Our phones are our connection to the larger world. While this is gratifying from the standpoint of instant communication, there is also an inherent frustration whenever there is a breakdown in the communication train. The film boldly underlines the term ‘ghosted’ to illustrate our co-dependent nature on our phones. 

This film has much to say, particularly as a commentary on dating culture in the 21st century. No doubt anyone at this point has felt neglected by an unanswered text or bitter at being ghosted. The movie puts themes and ideas front and center. While the effort is there, the film says a lot without having anything meaningful to say. Outside the performances, the film is nothing more than an attempt to utilize contemporary touchpoints to tell a story. 

At its finest, horror serves as a mirror to society at any given moment. Think back to the Universal Monsters of the 1930s, capturing the era of the Depression, to arguably the golden age slashers in the 1970s and 80s, shining a light on panic in suburbia. Even today, horror can react to our fears or notions about the changing world around us. Horror confronts our darkest impulses and allows a catharsis that, if done effectively, can be therapeutic. 

Now, not every horror movie needs to be a therapy session or, let alone, an intricate meta-commentary on the world at large, but even mediocre horror films will capture the current zeitgeist and illuminate the panic bubbling underneath the surface. In The Dead Thing, ideas are at play, particularly concerning obsession and lust in this instant gratification and instant communication society. The downside here is the ideas that are out there in the cultural zeitgeist. Yet these ideas end up being nothing more than mere props. 

I wanted this film to be more than a hollow thriller, as the premise is intriguing. Director Elric Kane does have a flair for suspense. There are moments of genuine intensity in the film, but the overall sum of these parts fails to deliver anything that will leave a lasting imprint. 

The Dead Thing is currently available to stream on Shudder.