Taglines: Some girls just want to watch the world burn.
Zach (Dane DeHaan) is devastated by the unexpected death of his girlfriend, Beth (Aubrey Plaza). But when she miraculously comes back to life, Zach takes full advantage of the opportunity to share and experience all the things he regretted not doing with her before. However, the newly returned Beth isn’t quite how he remembered her and, before long, Zach’s whole world takes a turn for the worse.
Life After Beth is a 2014 American zombie comedy film written and directed by Jeff Baena. The film stars Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Anna Kendrick, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser, Matthew Gray Gubler, and John C. Reilly. The film premiered in competition at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014 given a limited release on August 15, 2014.
About the Story
After his girlfriend Beth dies from a snake bite while on a hike, Zach is devastated. After Beth’s funeral, Zach begins to spend time with Beth’s parents Maury and Geenie as a source of comfort. One day, while playing chess and smoking marijuana with Maury, Zach reveals that he and Beth were having problems in their relationship and that she had expressed desire to see other people in the days before she died. Zach feels remorse and guilt due to the fact that he never did any of the things Beth wanted to do.
One day, Maury and Geenie stop answering the door and block his phone calls, which upsets and confuses Zach. Later, while looking through the window, he sees Beth. He attempts to break in, but her parents call Zach’s older brother Kyle, who is a security officer and Zach is forced to leave. The next day, he goes to Beth’s grave and sees that there is a large hole. He returns to Beth’s house and successfully enters and discovers that Beth’s parents had been hiding her. Her parents explain that soon after the funeral Beth suddenly appeared and aside from having no memory of the past week, appears and sounds completely normal.
Beth and Zach go to the attic of her house where they have an emotional conversation about their relationship. Though still confused about the situation, Zach is thrilled that she is back and promises to go hiking with her like she always wanted. They decide to go on a hike, but Maury and Geenie convince them to stay in the house since they are scared that people will see her. Zach is able to eventually convince Beth’s parents to let them go outside, and he and Beth go to a park where they have sex.
As time goes on, Zach notices that people around town are acting strangely and similar to Beth, who has grown increasingly violent and has mood swings. He is now growing tired of Beth and cannot handle her violent tendencies, especially after she flies into a violent and jealous rage when she sees him having lunch with his childhood friend Erica. Zach tells Beth that she died and somehow came back, she doesn’t believe him until he takes her to her grave. While at the gravesite, Zach attempts to break up with Beth, but she grows angry and steals his car.
After Zach walks home, he discovers that his dead grandfather is also resurrected, as well as the previous owners of his house. Maury picks up Zach and tells him that Beth is extremely upset and that he must tell her that he lied about her death and to promise to be with her forever. Zach initially refuses, but relents after Maury agrees to call his former housekeeper, who is Haitian, to see if she has any information about the events surrounding them. Zach attempts to talk to Beth, but after she eats a neighbor, he drives away with her in the car.
Life After Beth
Directed by: Jeff Baena
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser, Matthew Gray Gubler, John C. Reilly
Screenplay by: Jeff Baena
Cinematography by: Jay Hunter
Film Editing by: Colin Patton
Production Design by: Michael Grasley
Cinematography by: Jay Hunter
Film Editing by: Colin Patton
Costume Design by: Negar Ali
Set Decoration by: Lisa Goldsmith
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, some horror violence, sexual content, nudity and brief drug use.
Studio: A24 Films
Release Date: August 15, 2014
Visits: 44
