A film described as “triumphantly weird” and “wonderfully dark” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival’s Midnight section on January 24 at The Ray Theatre. Dead Lover, written, directed, produced, and starring Canadian filmmaker Grace Glowicki, defies simple categorization, following a gravedigger’s quest to resurrect her beloved with unconventional methods.
The film centers on Grave Digger, portrayed by Glowicki with a deliberately affected Cockney accent, whose profession comes with a significant social drawback: a pronounced body odor. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a lover who is not only unfazed by her scent but actively attracted to it. Tragedy strikes when her lover is lost at sea, leaving behind only a single finger. Determined to reunite with him, Grave Digger embarks on a Frankenstein-esque project to bring him back to life.
The production of Dead Lover was a highly collaborative process, according to those involved. Ben Petri, who plays the Lover, described being initially “terrified” by the script but ultimately grateful for Glowicki’s willingness to push boundaries. “Once we got to the line ‘I want to pick up a piece of your poo and eat it like a banana’ I felt like, ‘I recognize what this is and I am locked and loaded,’” Petri said during a post-screening Q&A. Actor Leah Doz echoed this sentiment, praising Glowicki for creating a space to explore “extremes” and “vulgarity” in filmmaking.
The film’s unconventional aesthetic is a deliberate choice, reflecting Glowicki’s interest in “experimental DIY theater.” She workshopped the film with a Toronto troupe specializing in “super-experimental clown theater,” and cites influences ranging from screwball comedy and Mel Brooks to Monty Python and “hagsploitation” films like Young Frankenstein. This influence is visible in the film’s gender-swapped roles, multiple character portrayals by the same actors, and a sound design intended to underscore its “wacky” tone.
Details of the production reveal a commitment to collaborative creativity. Courtney Mitchell, the costume designer, requested additional footage of the Lover’s nightgown, believing it was a key costume piece. Glowicki obliged, resulting in a featured dance sequence. Special effects makeup artist Michael Harmon contributed a duel for the character of the Widower, played by Lowen Morrow, who as well served as a “movement director.” Doz herself wrote the film’s final scene.
Glowicki’s previous work includes the feature film Tito (2019), which was nominated for the John Dunning Best First Feature Award at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards, and the short film Her Friend Adam (2016), for which she won a special jury award for best actress at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. She was also named one of the Toronto International Film Festival’s “Rising Stars” in 2016. Her filmography also includes roles in Strawberry Mansion (2021) and Honey Bunch (2025), with Dead Lover marking her second feature as a director. According to IMDb, Glowicki is married to Ben Petrie, her co-star in Dead Lover.
At the Sundance premiere, Glowicki expressed her gratitude for the festival’s support, stating, “We always thought, ‘Sundance Midnight! That would be the best!’ So we are so thrilled to be here.”
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