Handling the Undead

On a blistering summer day in Oslo, the dead rise without explanation, turning a city into a place where the ordinary becomes uncanny. Three households find themselves confronted by figures who were once loved ones yet now carry traces of something unknown and urgent. The revenants move with their own rhythms, echoing memories that the living thought had faded, and conversations slip between practical worries and mythic questions about duties, forgiveness, and unfinished business. The film watches as neighbors peek from windows, phones buzz with rumors, and doors creak under the weight of unspoken histories. In this intimate horror, the threat feels less like a monster and more like a mirror that exposes what each family has hidden from itself.

Directed by Thea Hvistendahl, Handling the Undead reimagines a concept from John Ajvide Lindqvist and collaborators for the screen. The film leans into intimate family dynamics rather than loud shocks, a choice that aligns Nordic horror with a claustrophobic drama set against Oslo and its sun drenched streets.

Box office data has not been disclosed publicly and there are no widely reported numbers yet. The film's release appears to be limited to festival circuits and streaming platforms, with circulation focused on selective markets rather than a broad theatrical debut, reflecting a strategy common to niche international titles.

As of now there are no major nominations publicly announced for this title. Some critics note strong performances and direction as potential contenders, but the film has yet to secure notable accolades in major ceremonies, and conversations around awards remain speculative until official announcements arrive.

Critics describe the film as a thoughtful, unsettling meditation on grief and memory, where the line between living and dead is tested by heat and unresolved ties. The Norwegian cast delivers restrained intensity while the script balances slow burn suspense with moral questions about loyalty, truth, and the costs of reunion.