Death of Me (2020) Review
Spoiler-free so you can read before you watch
Horrorific content by christina on January 02nd, 2021 | Movie Review | Supernatural, Tourist, Psychological
A vacationing couple must discover the mystery behind a strange video that shows one of them killing the other.
Death of Me was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (also directed Saw II, III, IV and St. Agatha) and stars Maggie Q (from Priest), Luke Hemsworth (from Infini), Alex Essoe (from The Neighbor) and Kat Ingkarat.
True love takes sacrifice
Released this past October, Death of Me is the latest offering from Darren Lynn Bousman, director of several now-legendary Saw franchise installments. It features a script penned by Black Days writing duo, James Morley III and Ari Margolis with feature newcomer David Tish. Luke Hemsworth and Maggie Q star, rounding things out on a promising note for long-time horror fans. But does Death of Me make anything of all that potential, or would you be better advised to leave this one off your watchlist?
If you've got the impression that Death of Me drops unwitting tourists into foreign territory they don't understand, just to see what happens, you're right. Our protagonists are Neil (Hemsworth) and Christine (Q), a vacationing American couple exploring a remote island off Thailand's coast. From the time they arrive, it's clear something just isn't right about this place or the people who live here.
Those suspicions are confirmed when Neil and Christine wake up on their last day in the area after what appears to have been an eventful night. Their hotel room is trashed, they're nursing monster hangovers, and they have absolutely no memory of how any of it occurred. Things only get stranger when the couple attempt to figure out what happened by watching a video Neil shot on his camcorder the night before.
In addition to a strange occurrence at a local bar, Neil and Christine watch in horror as they see footage that depicts Neil assaulting Christine before snapping her neck and killing her. Now it's up to the bewildered couple to not only figure out what happened but to escape a coming storm set to show up in about 24 hours. Naturally, the island's mysterious populace isn't going to let that happen, though.
Death of Me indeed starts on a promising note. It sucks you right in and gets you curious. As the viewer, you want to know what's going on in Neil's video and how on earth Christine could be right there watching it when it depicts her violent death. You're curious enough about what the story is with this island and the people who live here, too – shades of such classics as The Wicker Man and Rosemary's Baby for sure. Don't expect Death of Me to live up to those titles, though, because you'll be disappointed.
Despite a great premise, an intriguing set-up, and fantastic performances from Hemsworth and Q in the lead roles, Death of Me becomes very tedious quickly. The race against time presented by an approaching storm's urgency should add to the suspense and tension here, but it just makes the film feel rushed and hectic for no good reason. Throw in several surreal fever hallucinations and dream sequences for good measure, and you've got a recipe for confusion on your hands.
It doesn't help that the script doesn't seem to have much direction. Multiple scenes and sections of this film play out without revealing anything new or moving the plotline forward. Death of Me does contain a few sequences and visuals that get the viewers' hopes up because of how great they look on screen, but that's about it. By the time you reach the climax and get a few answers about what's been going on, it's a letdown. There's no "wow" moment, and you're left with a lot of unanswered questions.
Worth Watching?
Death of Me winds up feeling like a waste of great visuals, unique plot points with loads of potential, talented actors, and a lush setting. It's watchable enough at times but leaves the audience feeling more frustrated than satisfied in the end. Check it out if you must, but don't expect too much.
