My Daughter Is a Zombie (2025) : Heartwarming, Quirky Zombie Comedy
South Korean cinema has practically perfected the zombie genre over the last decade, but My Daughter Is a Zombie tries something a bit different. Based on the popular webtoon by Yun-chang Lee, director Pil Gam-sung delivers a story that is part horror-comedy and part family melodrama. It is a decent watch that works best when it focuses on its emotional core, though it occasionally trips over its own tonal shifts.
The film centers on Jung-hwan (played by the always-reliable Jo Jung-suk), a single father and zoo keeper who finds himself in every parent's worst nightmare. During a sudden outbreak of a zombie virus, his teenage daughter Soo-ah (Choi Yu-ri) is bitten. Instead of reporting her to the authorities who are hunting the infected, Jung-hwan sneaks her away to his mother’s rural seaside home. Using his professional skills as an animal trainer, he embarks on a bizarre and often hilarious mission to "tame" his daughter and help her regain her humanity.
Jo Jung-suk is perfectly cast here. He brings a frantic, deadpan energy to the role that balances the "daughter-obsessed" father tropes with genuine pathos. His chemistry with the young Choi Yu-ri is the soul of the movie; even when she is in full zombie makeup, you feel the weight of their bond.
The real MVP of the film, however, is Lee Jung-eun as the grandmother. Her no-nonsense approach to raising a zombie-often involving a traditional back-scratcher to keep the girl in line, provides some of the biggest laughs. The film also features Cho Yeo-jeong as a zombie-hunting schoolteacher, which adds a layer of tension to the secret living situation, though her subplot feels a bit underutilized toward the end.
The first half is a riot of physical comedy and "pet training" gags, but the final act takes a sharp right turn into heavy sentimentalism. While the emotional payoff is earned, the transition feels a bit jarring. Some of the logic gaps regarding how the virus works are also a bit distracting if you think too much about them.
Overall, it is a high-quality production that proves family bonds can survive even the undead apocalypse. It is a solid, decent watch for a weekend, especially if you are in the mood for a story that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.