Burying the Ex (2015)
Gareth Jones
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Starring Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene, Alexandra Daddario, Oliver Cooper
Directed by Joe Dante
Max (Yelchin) is a horror-obsessed shop assistant, working at a local genre memorabilia and fancy dress store, with dreams of one day opening his own horror-themed business. Disapproving of his entrepreneurial goal is his overbearing girlfriend, Evelyn (Greene) – a domineering, jealous and bitchy eco-blogger who’s completely dedicated to all things vegan and environmental.
On discovering the existence of the “I-Scream” parlour in the neighbourhood, Max meets his classic monster-loving soulmate in the form of Olivia (Daddario), which leads to a completely unprovoked altercation between her and Evelyn (did I mention she’s the jealous type?). Already feeling less than enthused about the relationship, Max finds the last straw arriving when Evelyn spontaneously redecorates their apartment and damages his pristine collection of classic film posters – which he had planned to use to obtain the cash for a down payment on his flagship store.
On the advice of his womanising half-brother, Travis (Cooper), Max calls Evelyn to arrange a public meeting for the break-up, but finds himself excused from the impending conversation when Evelyn is hit, and killed, by a bus while en route.
Coming out of mourning, the fire between Max and Olivia is stoked once more and things begin to look up for Max – but his happiness is only temporary as, owing to a throwaway promise made next to a mysterious devil genie ornament stocked at the store in which he works, Evelyn comes back from the grave – determined to ensure that the relationship will continue… forever.
Burying the Ex is very much a tongue-in-cheek black comedy, designed with classic horror fans in mind. Comparisons between this and last year’s Life After Beth are easily drawn, but Burying the Ex takes a less overtly comedic approach and makes much less fun of its antagonist. Where Aubrey Plaza’s Beth was more the butt of the joke in Jeff Baena’s film, there’s little funny about Evelyn. She’s grating and caustic in living form, and a total threat to everything Max holds dear once she’s arisen – her determination to make him a zombie too, so that the pair can stay together forever, proving an unwelcome proposition that’s only ever a quick chomp away.
Where the comedy arrives is the situations in which these characters play, and the choices they’re forced to make – for good or bad. Dante throws in a solid amount of effective physical comedy, including one brilliantly toe-curling piece of zombie yoga, yet as a whole Burying the Ex is more low-key than one might expect. The cast take it all in their stride, and not too seriously – Greene appears to be relishing her turn as the nasty Evelyn, while Yelchin serves up the same kind of slightly awkward, yet likeable, everyman that he did in 2011’s Fright Night. Alexandra Daddario fits right in as the girl-you-wish-was-next-door, while Cooper stands out as the inexplicably suave Travis via his Har Mar Superstar, couldn’t-give-a-single-fuck mode of operation. The characters are broad, nothing is meant to be taken seriously, and it seems that everyone involved is totally on board with that. High drama this is not.
There’s a definite crossover appeal to be found here; an old-fashioned Boy Meets Girl story carried by a capable cast and married with horror tropes through Dante’s wickedly offbeat, playful style. Burying the Ex is by no means a laugh-a-minute comedy, and doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the cinematic sphere, but it’s an easy watch that flows well and remains engaging throughout. Don’t expect too much and it’ll show you a good time – but those hoping for a truly triumphant return to the screen for Dante following his absence since 2009’s enjoyable 3D outing, The Hole, would do well not to get too excited. Bonus points for the Dick Miller cameo, though.
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Film
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