'Dead Lover' Review: Exploring Themes of Love, Loneliness and Connection in a Unique Way
- Apr 16
- 4 min read
By Becca Johnson - April 16, 2026
A film marketed as being "for the real freaks", Dead Lover is not only directed by Grace Glowicki but stars her in the leading role as a lonely gravedigger. Not long after meeting her dream man, he tragically dies at sea, cutting their whirlwind affair short. Grief-stricken, the gravedigger goes to morbid lengths to resurrect him through madcap scientific experiments, resulting in grave consequences and unlikely love. Critics and audiences both in cinemas and at home got to experience this wild ride in ‘Stink-o-Vision’, a scratch and sniff card delivering the most deadly scents to elevate the experience.
Absurd from start to end, Dead Lover is a weird and wacky tale of romance, delivering a take on Frankenstein that we’ve never quite seen before. However, underneath the ooze and strangeness is a touching story of connection and loneliness.
Those who have a penchant for all things weird and wonderful need to make Dead Lover a priority viewing experience. From it’s stench-fuelled, grave-digging main character to its absurdly crude dialogue, there’s nothing about this film that feels familiar or ‘normal’. Visually, it’s drenched in neon and brights, which juxtaposed with period-esque dressing, hair and make-up makes for a unique and stunning viewing experience.
The cast all commit to the weirdness that’s expected of them, with some even delivering in multiple roles. Glowicki leads the pack with incredible comedic timing, and Ben Petrie also gives a notable performance as her devoted love interest. Knowing its a lot to take in, the run-time clocks in at just 86 minutes, and each second is filled with something notable - whether it be a laugh-out-loud gag or grotesque set piece. Speaking of grotesque, it might not provide the typical gore that horror viewers are used to, but that doesn’t prevent it from getting under your skin. Oozing with grime, body parts and an overall immersive ick-factor that makes you want to shower after watching, it definitely delivers on the freaky front. Dead Lover is messy, but intentionally so. Each idea is equally batshit, but by Glowicki colliding them all together into a pink and green-soaked whirlwind, it somehow makes sense.
Dead Lover isn’t a film for everybody, and there’s actually quite a small audience that will get from it what the filmmaking team intended. Whilst some may find it too weird to get on board with, others may be put off by its sheer vulgarity. It plays its cards quite early, making everything that comes after that fruitful first act feel a little on the repetitive side. If you weren’t on board within those first minutes, there’s nothing later that’ll draw you in. However, there is one element that grounds it, which will hopefully give viewers something tangible to latch onto amongst the weirdness - the theme exploration. It might be a film about someone who smells so bad that she can’t meet her match, but at its core, its a deep, thoughtful tale of connection and loneliness. Our gravedigger has spent years in solitude, misunderstood by her peers and putting off those who come near her with an unruly stench. However, that all changes when someone comes into her life - a man who can not only appreciate her odour, but completely match her freak in every sense of the word. It’s not long before he’s tragically taken away, which is where the real theme exploration comes into play - how far will we go for connection? It might go a particularly strange way about it, but there’s a very human centre that’s worth hearing out. Who knew a film this absurd and vulgar could be so relatable?
So, let’s discuss the elephant in the room - Stink-O-Vision. Viewers are presented with a scratch and sniff card featuring ten scents; some, like ‘banana’ and ‘milkshake’, seem to offer something manageable, whereas the likes of ‘grave digger’ and ‘funky’ promise something much worse. When a number pops up in the top corner of the screen, viewers are prompted to scratch off the corresponding scent in time with the movies events. It might be a gimmick, but the Stink-O-Vision makes for an even wilder, more immersive experience. The scents are truly vile and unlike anything that can be smelt elsewhere, with ‘BBQ Stink’ and ‘Kill Shot’ offering up particularly pungent fumes. It’s not even worth getting into what the scent labelled "????" Is supposed to replicate. Whilst Stink-O-Vision is likely more fun with a reactive audience, it also offers a fun, unique and disgusting way to experience the film at home. Not only is Dead Lover a unique film with many good ideas, but the marketing and viewing experience follows suit. If you have the opportunity to watch this alongside Stink-O-Vision, be warned - it is utterly putrid. Complimentary, of course.
Dead Lover may struggle to find its audience, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a shot for those who enjoy exploring themes of love, loneliness and connection. Weird, wacky and wonderful from start to finish, Dead Lover might be an uncomfortable watch for some in vulgarity, comedy and tone, but will give those who enjoy unique, freaky films an unforgettable time. If you can look past the bonkers approach, there’s a lot of tender emotion to explore.
'Dead Lover' released in cinemas on March 20, featuring the unique "Stink-o-vision" experience.
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