[Sundance ’25] ‘Didn’t Die’: Zombie horror is more about character

It is surprising how few horror movies are centered around podcasts. Television studios are still a common setting, and there is even the occasional film involving a radio station. There have been more stories involving AI, and the internet has been a subject for decades. Despite their popularity, podcasts are not common in horror. That is just one of the differences found in the Sundance world premiere Didn’t Die.

The film follows a podcast host who is trying to maintain her audience. Vinta has reached her 100th episode despite difficult conditions. The world has been in the throes of a zombie apocalypse so the potential for listeners is not as great as it once was. Still, with a great topic – survival tips – Vinta has managed to keep her podcast going.

Despite its modern premise, Didn’t Die has more in common with George A. Romero’s seminal Night of the Living Dead than any of the numerous zombie movies it spawned. Yes, it is also in black and white, but the similarities go beyond how it was shot. For starters, this movie is much more about its characters than the undead they are dealing with. If you are looking for gory kills, this is not the film for you.

Instead, the plot is about familial relationships and character development (another similarity it has with Living Dead.) Didn’t Die does not completely ignore genre conventions, but it is at its best when Vinta and her family take center stage. Loss is an important theme and the script shines in the moments when the group are trying to deal with what has happened. 

Didn’t Die is screening at the Sundance Film Festival. Sundance is taking place through February 3, 2025.