Oliver Martin, an awkward teenager living in the small oceanside town of Hubris in 1987, is coping with the tragic loss of his mother, Dolly, who died a year earlier in a freak accident. After spending some time in a psych ward to process his trauma, Oliver is granted permission to return home, where he lives alone in his house. His only visitors are social workers Margot Seale and Julius Carter. While Margot is caring and encouraging, urging Oliver to reconnect with others and make friends, Julius is more cynical and blunt, often believing Oliver is beyond help.
Following Margot’s advice, Oliver decides to step outside his comfort zone and attempts to forge new friendships. His chance comes when he meets Chloe, a girl around his age whose family has recently moved into town. During a walk, Chloe asks Oliver about his mother, prompting him to recall the heartbreaking circumstances of her death. Through a flashback, it is revealed that Dolly was enjoying a soap opera in the backyard when she was accidentally electrocuted. Oliver had been trying to take her picture by the pool, but tripped over an extension cord, causing the TV to fall into the water and electrocute her. Her body was flung onto a garden gnome, and this tragic event shaped much of Oliver’s life. Chloe, disturbed by this revelation, quickly leaves Oliver.
Later, Oliver visits his mother’s unmarked grave and updates her on their favorite TV shows, as well as sharing his ongoing struggle with loneliness. During this visit, an overhead plane crashes nearby, leading to the death of a boy named Mitch, who is mourned by his mother, who describes him as “a friend to everyone”. Hearing about Mitch, Oliver becomes hopeful and impulsively digs up his body, hoping to bring him back to life. Encouraged by the local gravediggers, Oliver then digs up several other victims from the plane crash, including Susanne, a woman, Mel, a nine-year-old girl, and Frank, an eccentric mechanic, as well as accidentally bringing home a grumpy guardian dog, Ninja, after running her over with his car.
Oliver arranges the bodies in staged family photos, and surprisingly, the next morning, they are animate and lively, acting like a typical family. The resurrected Mitch and the others become a strange but charming family unit. Oliver’s connection with Mitch deepens when they share a night of stargazing at The Chicken Run, a local hangout spot, where Chloe later asks Oliver out on a date. With Mitch’s encouragement, Oliver musters the courage to pick her up and drive her home, where she rewards him with a gentle kiss, marking a sweet milestone in his life.
As Halloween approaches, Margot and Julius visit Oliver and meet Mitch, who cleverly distracts Margot from their undead nature while Julius begins suspiciously snooping around. Julius finds evidence of Oliver’s unconventional family and confronts the situation with increasing discomfort, eventually attempting to record the truth with a camera. His efforts lead to a terrifying revelation, as Oliver and his supernatural family confront Julius, who is eventually taken away in a straightjacket, convinced that Oliver is delusional.
Despite the chaos, Oliver’s bravery during Halloween earns him admiration from the townspeople, who see him as a hero. Margot reassures him of her support, promising she’ll always be there for him. At his mother’s grave, Oliver shares his feelings and admits he misses her terribly, while also acknowledging the strange, wonderful events happening around him. The scene reveals her gravestone now bears the inscription: "Dolly Martin. Mother and friend. 1951-1987".
One night, a fire accidentally ignited by Susanne while helping Frank intensifies. Oliver, alarmed, rushes to save everyone but succumbs to smoke inhalation temporarily. The family urges him to live his life fully, telling him they will be waiting for him in the afterlife. Oliver escapes unharmed, comforted by Chloe, who arrives just in time, and carries a fishbowl containing the resurrected fish Mel had given him, symbolizing hope and renewal. As they walk away from the burning house, it’s suggested that the family of the undead, including his mother, are finally at peace, leaving Oliver with a renewed sense of belonging and the promise of a future filled with love and friendship.
