Parents' Guide to

Tammy's Always Dying

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Great lead performance in dark, mature suicide dramedy.

Movie NR 2020 85 minutes
Tammy's Always Dying Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

willlove
willlove Adult
April 30, 2020
age 18+

WAY TO MATURE FOR YOUNG TEENS

well the thing starts of with a graphic blowjob only kidding but there is way too much violence for your young teens also you see tammy naked in the bath and she uses way too much drugs of the drugs there is also loads of partying and fall on swear words

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Life is going nowhere for Catherine (Anastasia Phillips), a 35-year-old bartender whose alcoholic mother, Tammy (Felicity Huffman), threatens to kill herself at the end of every month, right when her welfare money runs out. Tammy's emotional suicide attempts may be insincere (she knows the bridge she says she's going to jump off is equipped with nets). But, every month, Catherine talks her off that bridge -- it may be her one skill in life. When Tammy is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Catherine has a choice to make. Will she sacrifice herself and endure the toxicity in her relationship with her mother to nurse her back to health? Or will she save herself by leaving her sick mom behind?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This drama showcases an award-worthy performance from Huffman, who completely transforms to play the troubled Tammy. Tammy is a mess of a mother: She's a selfish drunk who can be cruel and cutting, yet she takes advantage of Catherine's love and pity to keep her daughter from leaving their small town. Tammy is familiar to us -- Huffman's mannerisms, voice, and behavior all feel real -- and yet she feels like someone who's never been portrayed on film before. The intricacies of the two main characters' toxic relationship wheel are fascinating.

Making her feature screenwriting debut, Joanne Sarazen proves that she's one to watch with this script, which focuses on the way poverty affects women (in this case, a mother and a daughter who only have each other). Where things go off the rails a bit is when Catherine fantasizes about profiting off her miserable life story as a guest on a Dr. Phil-type show. She meets up with an agent (Lauren Holly) who finds guests for talk shows and gets them paid to tell their tragic story -- a job that doesn't exist in the real world (talk shows have talent bookers, and any "coaching" comes from the show's producers). Catherine is so painfully real that this fake-feeling side plot undermines the authenticity of her story. And while there are definitely some twists and turns here, by the time the movie ends, you'll feel like Catherine: wishing you'd left a lot earlier.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about alcoholism's effect on someone's loved ones. What do you take out of the exchange when Catherine says, "You're depressed because you drink all the time," and Tammy responds, "I drink all the time because I'm depressed"?

  • Talk about the reality of suicide. What should you do if you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts?

  • Does the film glamorize smoking or drinking? Does it show realistic consequences for their use? Why is that important?

  • What does the film have to say about poverty? Why is it so hard to escape?

Movie Details

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