My Daughter Is a Zombie: The Saddest Comedy Movie You’ll Ever Watch

Jo Jung-seok plays a father named Jeong-hwan. He’s tired, worried, and not good at showing feelings. His daughter, Soo-ah, is not like other kids anymore. She’s turned into a zombie. But not a scary one. She still likes churros and dancing. That’s the part that makes this story odd. And also, kind of warm.

The movie My Daughter Is a Zombie mixes humor with quiet sadness. South Korea has a rich tradition of innovative zombie narratives, from the relentless hordes of Train to Busan to the satirical bite of #Alive. My Daughter Is a Zombie carves its own niche by shifting focus entirely away from societal collapse and onto the intimate, heartbreaking struggle within a single family unit. It asks: what happens after the initial outbreak, when the infected is someone you love? This intimate scale is its defining feature.

It’s not a big action zombie movie. This one is more about people. Jeong-hwan takes his daughter to his mother’s countryside home. He wants to keep her safe. But nothing about this plan is easy. There’s fear. There’s confusion, and there’s love, hidden in the mess.

Choi Yu-ri plays Soo-ah. She’s been acting since she was six. She’s known for playing younger versions of main characters in dramas like Clean with Passion for Now and Itaewon Class. This time, though, she’s the heart of the film. She spent 10 months training for this role. That includes learning how to act like a zombie while still being, well, a kid who likes snacks. It also meant sitting through two hours of special makeup every time she filmed. That’s a lot for a teenager, but her performance seems to be getting early attention.

More Than Just Laughs: What This Zombie Comedy Is Really About

On the surface, this might sound like just another funny movie. But there’s something deeper going on. Director Pil Kam-sung said Choi Yu-ri has a face that mixes innocence with a strange sadness. That’s the tone of the whole film. A strange sadness. Something quiet but heavy.

The virus doesn’t turn Soo-ah into a monster. Instead, it pulls her into a new space—half girl, half zombie. But she still dances. Still craves food. Still follows her dad around. That creates a strange kind of hope. And a lot of heartbreak. Because you’re never sure what she’ll do next, or how long her father can protect her.

The movie isn’t about saving the world. There’s no army. No lab coats. Just a father and daughter stuck in a big, weird, emotional problem. And yet, you care. You laugh when Soo-ah acts silly. You tense up when her hunger grows. And you wonder how it’s all going to end.

Other actors include Lee Jung-eun and Cho Yeo-jeong, who add more flavor to the story. They play with people around the family—some helpful, some not. Actor Yoon Kyung-ho is also in the movie. He and Jo Jung-seok are longtime friends in real life. Their scenes together in Zombie Daughter are expected to bring more natural comedy, based on their history.

Between Horror and Heart: Why This Film Feels So Human

As part of promotions, both actors are set to appear on ‘Channel 15ya’. The episode hasn’t been filmed yet, but fans are curious. These interviews might reveal more about how the actors approached this strange, touching film, especially because it’s not easy to act like your daughter is a zombie, while also acting like you still love her the same.

This movie is not trying to be perfect. And that’s what makes it interesting. It’s messy. A little funny. A little weird. A little heartbreaking. The kind of story that doesn’t always tell you what to feel.

The father doesn’t always know what to do. He trains in secret programs to protect his daughter. But that won’t fix her. He still sees her as his little girl. But sometimes she growls. Sometimes she gets hungry in a way that’s not normal. The push and pull between that reality is the real tension here.

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A Genre-Bending Film That Dares to Be Different

Many viewers will likely focus on Choi Yu-ri. This is her first time carrying such a strange role. A teenage zombie who still acts like a daughter. Not a villain. Not a victim. Something in between. She’s clumsy, lovable, and dangerous all at once.

And that’s probably the point of My Daughter Is a Zombie. It’s a Korean zombie comedy movie in 2025, but it’s also a quiet family drama. It pokes at big questions. What happens when the people you love change? What would you do to protect them? And can love survive when nothing else makes sense?

The movie opens in South Korean theaters on July 30.  Beyond its unique premise, the film taps into deeply relatable themes: navigating a child’s difficult transition (illness, adolescence, neurodiversity reframed through the zombie lens), the isolating weight of caregiving, and finding moments of joy and connection amidst profound challenges. This thematic grounding makes the bizarre scenario emotionally accessible and ripe for post-viewing discussion.

There’s no global release date yet. But it’s already drawing attention for its mix of genres, its strong cast, and its strange heart. If you’re curious about a story that doesn’t follow rules, this one might be worth watching. Not because it’s perfect. But it tries something different.

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