My Boyfriend's Back (1993 film)
| My Boyfriend's Back | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Bob Balaban |
| Produced by | Sean S. Cunningham |
| Written by | Dean Lorey |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Harry Manfredini |
| Cinematography | Mac Ahlberg |
| Edited by | Michael Jablow |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $3.3 million (US) |
My Boyfriend's Back is a 1993 American romantic horror comedy film directed by Bob Balaban which tells the story of Johnny Dingle (Andrew Lowery), a teenage boy who returns from the dead as a zombie to meet Missy McCloud (Traci Lind), the girl he's in love with, for a date. The film received negative reviews.
The film's title is a reference to the 1963 song of the same name by The Angels. The original title of the film, Johnny Zombie was changed shortly before the film's theatrical release. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Matthew McConaughey, and Matthew Fox appear in small roles in the film.
Eager to impress his crush, Johnny Dingle arranges a fake robbery in the store where Missy McCloud works. Dingle intends to foil the robbery and save McCloud. The plan backfires, and Dingle is shot. As he lies dying in the store, he asks her to the prom, and McCloud agrees. After his funeral, Dingle inexplicably returns as a zombie and attempts to reintegrate into society. Though he faces anti-zombie discrimination, Dingle is allowed back in school, where he eats a bully. McCloud, though reluctant to follow through with her promise, eventually agrees to attend the prom with Dingle. As McCloud slowly falls for him, Dingle wrestles with his urge to cannibalize McCloud. Dingle eventually overcomes his urges and takes McCloud to the prom, where he finally decays to point of destruction. As he goes to heaven, Dingle learns that a mishap in heaven was the cause for his return as a zombie. Because he was never meant to die, he is sent back to Earth and given a second chance at life. Dingle again sacrifices himself for McCloud during the robbery, but his life is spared when the bullet is deflected by a locket he bought as gift for McCloud. McCloud, overcome by his sacrifice and the gift of the locket, agrees to attend the prom with him.
Academic Peter Dendle identifies the themes of the film as being standard teen film tropes. Dingle's urges to eat his date are a metaphor for teenage sexual activity, and his fear of decomposition is teenage anxiety over acne. As a zombie, Dingle is discriminated against and ostracized, which is meant to show zombies as outsiders.
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