Dead Lover

Dating is hard. Finding someone who actually likes you for you—your quirks, BO and all—is nearly impossible. In Dead Lover, director Grace Glowicki tackles every girl's dilemma by playing a stinky, shovel-wielding gravedigger whose foul odor clears out any potential suitors from hundreds of graveyards away. That is, until she meets a man (co-writer Ben Petrie) mourning his dearly departed sister. Instead of plugging his nose at her wretched reek, he inhales deeply. For once, her stench isn’t a curse, but a huge turn-on. What starts as a horny yet sweet gothic romance quickly spirals into tragedy when her new lover drowns at sea, leaving behind only a single finger. Grieving, she tries everything to bring him back to life.

Shot on a stage with theatrical costumes and stage makeup, the film heavily leans into artifice with every visual choice. Dead Lover immaculately blends cartoonish sound design, colourful 16mm cinematography, and a small but highly committed cast to outlandish results. Dead Lover is a bizarre romantic high-concept fever dream, handcrafted with utmost care. Mixing absurdity, romance, horror, tragedy, and drama, the film is as unhinged as it is vulnerable. Glowicki’s performance ties it all together; emitting a bonkers, hysterical, and tender energy in every scene. What makes Dead Lover special is that it doesn’t mock romance or the universal yearning for connection. The film unabashedly embraces it. Dead Lover shows its audience that even love built on stench is rewarding and worthy enough to pursue to the grave. - Kassy Gascho