Darby and the Dead (formally titled Darby Harper Wants You to Know) is an American teen horror comedy film. It is produced by 20th Century Studios and Footprint Features and was released on Hulu on December 2, 2022.
On May 26, 2023, the film was removed from Hulu and Star,[1] but was made available on VOD on November 8, 2023.[2]
Synopsis[]
The story follows Darby Harper, who after suffering a near-death experience as a child is granted the ability to see ghosts. To combat the existential boredom of high school, she runs a side business counseling local spirits in her spare time. When an unexpected occurrence happens between Darby and Capri, the most popular girl at her high school, Darby reluctantly agrees to help her and in the process learns how to fit in with the living world again.
Plot[]
When Darby Harper was seven, she and her mother were swept by a wave that drowned them. Darby was brought back to life, but her mother perished. Since then, Darby gained the ability to see and communicate with the dead. She started a side business to help "Deados" move on to the afterlife by helping them take care of things they could not do while alive. This has caused her to become distant from everyone at school, including her former friend Capricorn "Capri" Donahue, the popular cheerleader. Darby's only true friend is the school's former janitor Gary, a "Stayer" who is waiting for his wife Linda to pass on so that he can move on too.
Darby meets new student Alex who is the school's mascot and is drawn to her, despite her attempts to dissuade him. She also comes into conflict with Capri over her boyfriend James who, contrary to her, is kind and considerate. While using a hair straightener in the bathroom, Capri electrifies herself and dies. Darby is immediately visited by her and comes to grips with the fact that she is dead and needs to pass on. She also discovers that she can psychically control things with her mind. Carpi constantly pesters Darby before deciding that her goal before moving on is to throw her seventeenth birthday party. Darby reluctantly agrees with Capri training her to think and act like her and her friends. After regaining her cheerleading abilities from her childhood, Darby manages to get in with Capri's friends, though she is told to stay away from Alex due to him being the mascot.
With Capri's help, Darby posits celebrating her birthday anyway to her friends and to raise "electrocution awareness" at school. Capri's friends agree and, thanks to Capri's influence, Darby starts to become popular among her peers. She further begins to bond with James who has stayed from school for a few days following Capri's death. After returning, everyone at school begins to suspect that the two are dating, much to Capri's friend's chagrin. Darby's new life begins to intrude on her old one as she misses a date with Alex and keeps passing on helping Gary's friend Mel pass on. Capri initially becomes jealous of Darby's influence over the party, but is calmed by Gary and Mel. She goes to apologize, only to discover Darby's supposed relationship with James and angrily burns her house and begins to haunt James, forcing him to "break up" with Darby.
The day of the party arrives and Darby comes in an effort to find Capri. She finds James talking to her via a Ouija board and Capri begins to mock Darby and send the board flying around the party. When she threatens further humiliation, Darby finally reveals to everyone her secret and the fact that she pretends to look down on everyone because of her own flaws. Darby returns to being ignored by everyone at school, but is visited by Capri who in an effort to make up for fighting with her, finds Darby's mother who has been watching her from afar in an effort to see how she can handle herself. Capri finally accepts Darby's friendship and moves on.
Darby decides to continue cheerleading, having made up with the squad and remains friends with James. She runs into Gary again who is close to visiting his wife and he reveals that Mel has finally moved on as well, thanks to Alex. It is revealed he can also see ghosts, as well as break the fourth wall as Darby had done throughout the film, after having gotten into a coma. The two decide to start dating and work their afterlife business together, while a bird, implied to be Capri based on her belief in reincarnation, watches from afar.
Cast[]
- Riele Downs as Darby Harper
- Auli'i Cravalho as Capricorn "Capri" Donahue
- Chosen Jacobs as Alex
- Asher Angel as James Harris
- Wayne Knight as Mel
- Derek Luke as Ben Harper
- Tony Danza as Gary
- Nicole Maines as Piper
- Kylie Liya Page as Taylor
- Genneya Walton as Bree
- Dean Goldblum as Todd
- Kim Syster as Darby's Mom
- Danica Jones as Coach Paula
Production[]
On October 22, 2021, Deadline reported that 20th Century Studios acquired the rights to the film and Storm Reid was initially cast as Darby Harper, but later dropped out of the project due to a scheduling conflict.[3]
On February 10, 2022, The Wrap reported the main cast and crew members of the film, with Riele Downs replacing Reid. The film has already started production.[4]
Gallery[]
Video[]
References[]
- ↑ Disney Removes Dozens Of Series From Disney+ & Hulu, Including 'Big Shot', 'Willow', 'Y' & 'Dollface'
- ↑ More Removed Disney+/Hulu Original Films Become Available To Buy & Rent On Digital Platforms
- ↑ 20th Century Lands Rights To ‘Darby Harper Wants You To Know’ Starring Storm Reid
- ↑ Riele Downs, Auli’i’ Cravalho, Asher Angel, Chosen Jacobs & Derek Luke Join ‘Darby Harper Wants You to Know’ (Exclusive)
External Links[]
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