A Horrible Way to Die
The film, “A Horrible Way to Die,” is less a thriller and more a character study following two damaged individuals: Sarah (Amy Seimetz), a recovering alcoholic, also free from a traumatic past; and Garrick Turrell (AJ Bowen), a serial killer who has just escaped from police custody. The two used to be a couple before Garrick was caught; now, Sarah is attending AA meetings and trying to break free of the memory of Garrick’s betrayal, while Garrick is traveling the country, leaving further destruction, looking for her. Now that Garrick is free, Sarah is living in fear at what might happen, just when she meets a perfectly nice guy, Kevin (Joe Swanberg), who is also in AA, and is more than patient with Sarah.
The logical question we ask ourselves while watching the film is, “Why is Sarah not in Witness Protection?” Well, according to her, she’s “supposed to be,” though we never really find out why she isn’t. That said, writer Simon Barrett and director Adam Wingard focus less on a plot and more on a mood of unease, and fear, for most of the film, and despite a lagging pace, it’s a mesmerizing film to watch thanks to the terrific performances by Bowen, who hints at regrets the film leaves unsaid for most of its 87 minutes, and Seimetz, who vibrates with anxiety as Sarah. I’ll admit, I’m giving up a lot of story in this review– more than I normally would for such a compelling indie film –but be assured, I’m not going to hint at the surprises of the last 15 minutes that turn the film on its ear, and had me thinking the film has screwed up royally, only to discover it had something unexpectedly satisfying to go out on. That alone makes it worthy viewing; combined with every that happens before hand, you won’t know what hit you.
