A Horrible Way to Die
Director Adam Wingard (Pop Skull, Home Sick) teams with screenwriter Simon Barrett (Dead Birds) for this shocker concerning a recovering alcoholic being pursued by her psychotic ex-boyfriend -- a dangerous serial killer who has escaped from prison. When Sarah (Amy Seimetz) left Garrick (AJ Bowen) and moved to the Midwest, she thought she would never see him again. These days Sarah has gotten her drinking under control thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous, and has a good job as a dental hygienist. She's just gotten into a relationship with fellow recovering alcoholic Kevin (Joe Swanberg) when she learns that Garrick is on the loose, and may intend to "finalize" their break-up. Now, as Garrick drives across the country leaving a virtual sea of blood in his wake, Sarah and Kevin brace themselves for a violent confrontation.
Director: Adam Wingard
Starring: AJ Bowen,Amy Seimetz,Joe Swanberg, Brandon Carroll, Lane Hughes
Viewed simply as a horror movie, A Horrible Way to Die is diverting; viewed as commentary on our willingness to tune out evil for the sake of emotional connection, it's devastating.
The credibility Bowen and Amy Seimetz, as his fearful ex-girlfriend, bring to their roles nearly legitimizes the movie's underlying silliness.
Where helmer Adam Wingard's prior "Pop Skull" used a jittery style to convey its delusional, possibly meth-addled protagonist's mindset, here, too much handheld camera wobble and wavering image focus only alienate the viewer from this somewhat sluggish tale.
Bowen in particular stands out, impressively describing Garrick's hairpin turns from comforting his victims to instinctively throttling them, but director Adam Wingard and writer Simon Barrett exhibit less facility with the big picture.
Viewed simply as a horror movie, A Horrible Way to Die is diverting; viewed as commentary on our willingness to tune out evil for the sake of emotional connection, it's devastating.
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