The Death Of Us (2023) Movie Review - Pandemic Thriller Made During Trying Times
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Remember the 2020 lockdown? Social distancing, days on end spent indoors eating too much and day drinking, toilet roll suddenly becoming a valid form of currency when bartering for supplies. It was an extremely bizarre time. But what if you took the concept of lockdown and turned it up to its most extreme? Well, that’s what this indie psychological thriller movie, The Death of Us, is all about.
The story follows a pair of best friends and roommates, Katie (Dana Schick, John Wick: Chapter 3 ) and Morgan (Ahku, I Almost Got Away with It, Red Sleep), as they find themselves trapped indoors under martial law during a deadly pandemic. As the situation escalates and the restrictions tighten, paranoia begins to set in.
Before we begin, my review of this movie is not going to be swayed by seeing a 7th gen Toyota Celica in the driveway of one of the houses. My fiancée adored the Spectra Blue Mica Celica that we had. I did not enjoy working on it, though! These British winters do a number on those bolts. I digress, my apologies – on with the review.
Creativity in Confinement
Lockdown was an interesting period of time, particularly for the movie industry. While many picked up new hobbies or indulged in old ones, filmmakers and actors all over the world saw it as a glowing opportunity for innovation. Despite the obvious hurdles that came along with restricted movement and social gatherings. These people decided to spend their time creating and putting a pin in this very strange moment in human history.
The development of The Death of Us came about as a result of the actual global crisis it depicts. The project was sparked in March 2020, when director Yonash Breneman lost his job as the world simultaneously went into lockdown due to the pandemic. Pouncing on the mantra to “write what you know“, Breneman saw that unprecedented moment of uncertainty as the opportunity to finally create his first feature film.
A “perfect storm”, if you will, of circumstances made the project possible. Breneman was living with the film’s two lead actors, Ahku and Dana Schick, creating a perfect quarantine production bubble. He reunited virtually with his long-time writing partner, Anthony Theodorakos, to co-write the script, Schick took on assistant directorial and producer roles, and the wheels were in motion.
Guerilla Filmmaking in a Ghost Town
The small team undertook a 30-day production schedule. They would write in the mornings, film during the day, and then rehearse in the evenings. They even jumped on the opportunity to use the eerily empty streets of Hollywood as one of the film’s authentic backdrops.
To be honest, I think it’s impossible to overstate the admiration I have for people who used this crisis as an opportunity to share their ideas with the world. One thing you learn while running a website like mine is that movie production is incredibly difficult. Every single film goes through myriad trials and tribulations to make it to your screens. Whether it is simple logistics, 15 script re-writes, finding locations, or the all important financial aspect.
Movie making might seem like a group of friends performing for shits and giggles in front of a camera. In reality, it is actually a carefully co-ordinated and extremely intense process involving hours of time and countless sleepless nights. And that’s without mentioning the emptying of numerous people’s bank accounts to make it all happen. The sheer fact that filmmakers decided to take on this task during lockdown is incredibly praiseworthy. The team behind The Death of Us are no exception.
From Pandemic to Paranoia
Naturally, the crisis in which this movie was conceived is a limiting factor. Much like with the fantastic Host (2020), the majority of the film takes place in one location. In this case, the house that our two protagonists share. What starts as a pair of best friends attempting to adapt to the sudden restrictions placed upon them. Quickly descends into a battle against paranoia and their own minds.
It’s interesting stuff. Breneman cleverly places Katie and Morgan on different ends of the pandemic spectrum. Katie is, perhaps, overly careful and a bit too keen to follow restrictions. Even to the point where her overwhelming fear takes over when she attempts to enter a store. While Morgan is more sceptical, less concerned about the possibility of becoming ill, and eager to bend the rules wherever possible.
I really enjoyed the fact that The Death of Us taps into the rampant misinformation that was so prevalent during this time period. It was really tough to not feel overwhelmed with the incredible amount of statistics and facts dumped on us everyday by the news. This movie doubles down on that and leans hard into the concept of government overreach.. Our characters can’t even leave the house thanks to a military that is only too keen to shoot on sight.
Is it, at times, a little implausible? Of course, but it is a thriller movie. It would hardly be thrilling if the only risk to the characters was a stern telling off and a slap on the wrist. Everyday Katie and Morgan are reminded of the death toll and the part they play in preventing it. But, as their rights are further eroded and the situation grows all the more desperate, their will to remain weakens. Along with that, the temptation to escape becomes overwhelming. The big question remains, is escape even possible?
Rough Around the Edges, Strong at the Core
It helps to align your expectations going into a low budget indie movie like this. These productions already have a lot of limitations due to funding, etc. When you throw a pandemic into the mix, it only adds to the complications. Don’t expect wild special effects, an extensive cast, and big budget filmmaking. This is a cast and crew working with what little they have. Expect some wonky colour grading, inconsistent camera work, a story whose ambition perhaps stretches past what the crew were able to accomplish, as well as some of your usual D.I.Y thriller pitfalls.
The parts of the film that count are strong and that is what really matters. Acting is solid, throughout. Dana Schick and Ahku have some great chemistry and both do an admirable job portraying their character’s very specific struggles with the situation. Schick would actually scoop up the Best Actress award at the Independent Filmmaker Showcase (LA Film Festival). The Death of Us also won Best Produced Script at the Austin Revolution Film Festival. Very impressive!
The ending is probably going to prove divisive. I will say, however, that it’s nice to see a low budget indie movie with a psychological bent actually settling on a definitive conclusion. I am tired of movies hedging and throwing in the big question mark at the end that leaves you guessing. It’s fine when it works but it is so overdone, lately. With all of that being said, I am really looking forward to seeing what these guys can do in the future. Especially without the limitations of a worldwide pandemic.
Should You Watch The Death of Us?
Whether you should watch The Death of Us, or not, really depends on your desire to spend some time in a world that is, effectively, a time capsule of the 2020 pandemic. It’s impossible not to be impressed by what this crew accomplished during that turbulent time period. Sure, there are issues here and there but, given the context, they are very forgivable. Solid acting performances, a paranoia-laced story that’s a psychological examination of how we all felt during that period, and an ending that isn’t afraid to be bold. I enjoyed this movie a lot. It’s available completely free on Tubi and Prime Video, as well which is always a bonus.
Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight
Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.
A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.
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