SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2025 REVIEW! Set in the not-so-distant future, a young podcaster, Vinita (Kiran Deol), celebrates the 100th episode of her podcast “Didn’t Die.” However, getting listeners has proven difficult since Vinita and her family live in the zombie apocalypse. Shot in beautiful black and white, Didn’t Die is a grounded zombie narrative with a bit of quirkiness concerning the severe lack of “hot people” left in the world. As Vinita returns to her hometown for the first time since the outbreak, she reunites with loved ones at what seems like the end of the world.
The goal of the “Didn’t Die” podcast is ultimately to build community. Not in the typical post-apocalyptic colony sort of community but an actual community, celebrating the fact that each listener “Didn’t die.” Vinita, along with her brothers Hari (Samrat Chakrabarti) and Rish (Vishal Vijayakumar), weather the waves of the undead while trying to find the joys in life past what they believed life was. Vinita is settling into life as a podcaster back home when her ex-boyfriend Vincent (George Basil) shows up with a baby he found. Didn’t Die lulls into what seems like a “hangout” movie just before the hordes of zombies remind viewers that this is a story about life and death.
Kiran Deol appears in Didn’t Die by Meera Menon, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Paul Gleason
“…returns to her hometown for the first time since the outbreak, she reunites with loved ones at what seems like the end of the world.”
There are plenty of niches within the zombie subgenre. From the massive zombie epics like Train to Busan and World War Z to street-level survival like in #Alive, with more than a few zombie comedies in between. Didn’t Die finds itself a nice spot in the zombie dramedy category, rich with irrelevant humor about orgies in the apocalypse juxtaposed with personal narratives about trying to find meaning in a meaningless world. The underlying message of mental health is powerful as characters come to terms with survival, loss, and attempting to find hope. The cast elevates director Meera Menon’s world-building and themes, creating a seemingly true-to-life zombie experience.
Casting for such a personal zombie story is beyond high pressure. Without a massive budget or hundreds of zombies to burn through, Didn’t Die must survive on its characters. Kiran Deol stands out as Vinita, displaying the optimism and charisma needed to inspire despite circumstances. Meera Menon’s take on the zombie genre shines most when it steers into the personal narratives and pushes characters beyond their capabilities. Rish’s arc is among the most poignant in the narrative, living as someone afraid to kill while surrounded by killers (both living and undead). Vishal Vijayakumar’s performance as Rish conveys the character’s struggle while creating an actual dilemma for Rish and the survivors. Zombie stories have explored survivors refusing or being afraid to kill, but rarely as personal or subtle as Didn’t Die.
Didn’t Die is a hopeful zombie narrative with more than a few heartwarming moments and just enough quirk to earn its laughs. Menon has crafted a sweet zombie film without ever losing its gruesome edge, making Didn’t Die a perplexing yet lovely watch. Some moments drag and, at times, a few extra zombie kills could liven the pace, but nothing detracts from the originality of Meera Menon’s take on zombies. While the zombie genre has plenty of niches, it also has plenty of entries; originality is challenging in a genre that ranges from Night of the Living Dead to Zombieland to the endless installments of The Walking Dead. Didn’t Die brings some original flare to the zombie genre and is a worthy watch for this Sundance film festival.
Didn’t Die screened at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
"…brings some original flare to the zombie genre..."
