Handling the Undead

Handling the Undead ends with the horrifying truth about the undead returning from the dead. Throughout the film, we see how the characters’ grief drives them to hope and even desperation, leading them to believe in impossible reunions. The phenomenon that causes the dead to come back is mysterious, linked to a strange electromagnetic event that affects both the living and the deceased. When Eva wakes up after being pronounced dead and is declared legally alive again, it initially feels like a miracle for her family, especially after their grief and denial. However, as Eva’s condition deteriorates, it becomes clear she isn’t truly back—she’s a zombie. The same goes for Elisabet, who, despite her initial moments of tenderness and longing to reconnect, ultimately reveals darker signs of her undead nature, including biting and violence. The final reveal confirms that those who reappear are indeed flesh-eating zombies, not the loved ones they once were.

In the film’s brutal climax, Anna’s worst fears are realized when she finds Elias, her son, returned but turned into a reanimated zombie. The heartbreaking moment comes when Anna, overwhelmed by the horror and the realization that her son no longer exists as her child, drowns him to end his suffering and her own agony. This act of destruction is also portrayed as an escape for Anna—drowning Elias allows her to rid herself of the illusion that her son might still be alive in some form, and it offers her a tragic hope: that maybe now, she can hold onto the memory of Elias without the horrifying truth permanently tainting her grief. In her final act, Anna chooses to destroy what’s left of her son to prevent him from hunting others, even if it means destroying her own capacity for hope. Ultimately, her act signifies an acceptance of the terrifying reality—that death’s return is a monstrous facsimile of life, and sometimes, letting go means saying goodbye forever.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:02