Sundance Film Festival 2025 – Didn’t Die certainly pays tribute to Night of the Living Dead, from its black and white aesthetic to some of its key themes. Like George A. Romero’s work, the feature focuses on human drama and conflict just as much as it does zombies. It’s also a film about podcasting at the end of the world, while maintaining the very few relationships that still exist.

Directed by Meera Menon, the film stars Kiran Deol as podcaster Vinita. Her witty sense of humor masks her own trauma and the fact that her parents turned into “biters.” Though Vinita frequently stresses the importance of community among the living, she’s rather emotionally dethatched. While others lost family, Vinita’s brothers, Hari (Samrat Chakrabarti) and Rish (Vishal Vijayakumar), are among the survivors. The family reunites in a rural home, similar to the farmhouse in Night of the Living Dead.  They’re joined by Barbara (Katie McCuen), Hari’s partner. In another fun Romero reference, Barbara certainly resembles Judith O’Dea’s character upon first introduction. However, McCuen’s Barbara evolves into a much different character than Romero’s creation.

Tension grows among the siblings over the loss of their parents. The conflict skyrockets to an eleven once a baby enters the fray. Vincent (George Basil), Vinita’s ex, discovers the baby in a car, after biters killed her parents. Again and again, Vincent attempts to unload the baby, first leaving her with Vinita and Rish and literally running away. He eventually joins the group of survivors, even though he stresses that he’d be better off on his own.

So much of this movie deals with the best way to survive and personal relationships. There’s a frequent debate among the characters as to whether or not isolation or community works best during the end times. Add the baby into the mix and it grows far more complicated. Barbara and Hari especially argue over whether or not to keep the child. Hari sees it as a death sentence, but Barbara is far more optimistic. While the baby certainly heightens the tension, leading to danger and precarious situations, she also drives the story forward. She even sparks changes within a few of the characters. This is a well-written script all around, especially the characterization.

Meanwhile, the black and white aesthetic and Gleason’s cinematography create quite an eerie atmosphere. Simply put, this movie looks really, really good. Just keep in mind that this film isn’t too heavy on the gore, even for a zombie movie. The story and characterization take precedent. That said, the biters do remain an ever-present threat, constantly lurking around the home. The survivors are also convinced that the undead are evolving, growing smarter and more dangerous. The second half contains some shocking moments. Not all major characters are safe. This is the apocalypse after all.

Just like Night of the Living Dead, Didn’t Die focuses on the tension among a unit of survivors. It’s about the struggle to maintain relationships during the toughest of circumstances. It’s a beautifully shot film that balances story with just enough zombie action. Though this feature proudly proclaims its influences, it carves out its own path in the end times.