The Civil Dead is a 2022 American comedy film directed by Clay Tatum from a screenplay by Tatum and Whitmer Thomas. The cast features Tatum, Thomas, Whitney Weir, Budd Diaz, Robert Longstreet, Christian Lee Hutson, and Teresa Lee.
The film had its world premiere at Slamdance Film Festival on January 27, 2022 and was released on February 3, 2023 by Utopia. It was released in France by Damned Distribution under the title Ghost Therapy.
Plot
The film opens on a couple sleeping in a cabin. They are awoken and disturbed by a noise within the home.
Clay (Tatum) is unemployed, living in Los Angeles with his wife, Whitney (Weir). When she leaves town, he promises he'll get out of the house and attempt to book a photography gig. Clay tries some get-rich-quick schemes to pay rent, including staging a fake open house in his apartment.
While shooting photos of a mattress spray painted with the phrase "5G killed my dog", Clay notices a man in the background and is annoyed that he is ruining the shot. Whit (Thomas), is pleased that Clay sees him and he insists on tagging along. The two are old friends from high school, but Clay had ignored Whit's texts when they separately moved to LA. Whit fills Clay in on his success as an actor in small indie roles. He explains that his unusual outfit (purple button-up shirt, green pants, purple trench coat) is due to a recent costume-fitting for a role.
The two spend the night at Clay's house, where Whit feigns drinking alcohol and falling asleep. In the morning, Clay asks Whit to leave, but Whit insists that he cannot: he's dead, unable to open doors or hold anything, and Clay is the only person that has been able to see or hear him since becoming a ghost. Clay takes a Polaroid of Whit and becomes distressed when the photo develops and Whit is not pictured.
Clay allows Whit to spend time with him while Whitney is out of town. Clay convinces Budd (Diaz) to bring him to a private poker game hosted by Arnold (Longstreet). Whit looks at everyone's cards undetected and communicates their contents to Clay. As they return home, Clay is attacked in an alley by a man he had scammed at the open house. The man disappears into dust.
When Whitney returns to LA, Clay asks Whit to give him a week to figure out how to integrate Whit into his life, since Whitney cannot see or hear Whit. Whit reluctantly agrees to give Clay space and follows Belle (Lee), who had been the hostess at Arnold's game, home with her date (Hutson). Whit attempts to watch the two have sex, but leaves in shame.
Meanwhile, Clay researches other people who have been haunted and becomes convinced that he is in danger either by Whit's hands or his own. He pretends to be unable to see or hear Whit when Whit returns days earlier than they had agreed.
Clay tricks Whit into getting into his car and locks him inside overnight. Whit, unable to open doors, screams and begs Clay to let him out. In the morning, Clay tells Whitney that he got a job through his friend Andy Samberg. He drives out of LA with Whit, where the two rent a cabin and attempt to devise a plan for Whit's undetected presence in Clay's life.
Clay and Whit get along throughout their time alone. They take photos, chat, and dance. Clay leaves the cabin door open so Whit can come and go as he pleases. During a power outage, Clay is convinced that Whit has the ability to shut the lights off and accuses him of killing the man in the alley and other poltergeist powers. In the morning, Clay hides a broken statue of the cabin owner's beloved horse in the attic. Whit expresses gratitude for Clay's friendship and that they'll be together forever. He confesses that he is not a successful actor: he's dressed like Heath Ledger's Joker because he is a street performer who was beaten to death by fellow performers dressed as Pennywise and Deadpool.
Clay and Whit share an awkward apology and Clay encourages Whit to check out the attic after Whit expresses curiosity. Clay closes the attic ladder behind him. Whit, unable to escape, screams and begs Clay to let him out. Clay collects his things, gets in his car, and drives away.
Cast
Clay Tatum as Clay
Whitmer Thomas as Whit
Whitney Weir as Whitney
Budd Diaz as Budd
Robert Longstreet as Arnold
Teresa Lee as Belle
Christian Lee Hutson as Belle's Date
Anthony Oberbeck as Chucky
DeMorge Brown as Hippie
Anna Seregina as Cabin Couple
Chris Thayer as Cabin Couple
Additional unnamed roles are played by Mitra Jouhari, Trinidad James, and Problem.
Production
Tatum and Thomas wrote, produced, and shot the film during the COVID-19 pandemic.