SXSW Review: Fresh, Original, & Surprisingly Tender Horror 'Nina Forever'

Rob (Cian Berry) is a grocery store clerk who recently tried to kill himself after not being able to cope with the depression brought on by the sudden tragic death of his girlfriend Nina (Fiona O’Shaughnessy). Holly (Abigail Hardingham) is Rob’s co-worker, who has a morbid fascination with pain and death, so obviously she’s immediately smitten with Rob. This is the perfect pairing, at least for now, since Rob is in desperate need of a romantic connection in his life so he can at least attempt to get over Nina’s death, and Holly needs to be in an edgy relationship after her ex dumped her for being too "vanilla." The sex that bookends their date seems to be going spectacularly well. Sparks fly as the two young lovers copulate with abundant mutual attraction and chemistry. Suddenly, the sheets are covered with blood, a pair of gory hands emerges out of the bed, and before they know it, Nina, or at least a highly sarcastic zombie version of her, pops up for an extremely...