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Death of Me
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Decently creepy vacation-from-hell horror tale.
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Death of Me
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What's the Story?
In DEATH OF ME, Christine (Maggie Q) and her husband, Neil (Luke Hemsworth), wake up in their rented room on an island near Thailand, with no idea of what happened the night before. Their room is trashed, and there's mud everywhere. Neil checks his camera for clues and finds a disturbing video. It shows the couple getting a special local drink in a bar, and then, later, Neil having sex with Christine, strangling her, and burying her. Now, stranded without their passports and with a typhoon approaching, they must trust each other and follow whatever slender leads they can find to find out what happened -- and what might still be happening.
Is It Any Good?
This sturdy, tense thriller may not always be totally smart or original, but it's neatly structured, keeping viewers off-kilter and creeped out, stealing toward a surprisingly effective climax. The characters in Death of Me could be criticized for splitting up when they probably shouldn't have or for not keeping a better eye on their luggage, but, as bizarre as their situation is, the movie seems to capture some genuine emotion and follows a certain logic. Best of all, it avoids a dumb "twist" ending in favor of something more organic.
Director Darren Lynn Bousman relies on very strong local set design and on creepy little touches like a bundle of fish dropped on a doorstep or a table-full of people all looking up and smiling at the same time. Some may find Death of Me guilty of cultural appropriation, but you could also argue that its mix of local culture and characters who are both appealing and quick to demonstrate "ugly American" tendencies (they're sometimes demanding or entitled) makes the issue more complex than that. In truth, as a vacation-from-hell movie, this one is no Midsommar, but its lean storytelling and surefire chills make it a decent guilty pleasure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Death of Me's violence. How did it affect you? How much is shown, and how much is suggested through sounds and subtle images? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How is sex depicted here? What values are imparted?
Are drinking and/or drugs glamorized here? Are there consequences for substance use? Why does that matter?
What does "cultural appropriation" mean? Does this movie do that?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 17, 2020
- Cast: Maggie Q , Luke Hemsworth , Kelly B. Jones
- Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Asian actors
- Studio: Saban Films
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence, gore, sexual content and language
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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