She Dies Tomorrow; Reflecting On Life Alone Before One Dies, Can Be a Terrifying Feeling. Grade: B
She Dies Tomorrow tells a story about a lonely single woman named Amy (Kate Lyn Sheil), whom believes she is going to die tomorrow just by the feeling alone. As Amy expresses her feeling to her friend Jane (Jane Adams), things begin to go south, as now everyone Jane comes to contact with believes they’re dying tomorrow too.
The Cinematography was solid in this film. I like the sequences of changing beaming colors, as it gives the film a unique look when characters are realizing their days on this earth is coming to an end. The Score was solid, particularly different compared to other horror films in the past. The cast in this film is pretty good as a whole, I was honestly impressed just how they handled the weird nature of this film. Amy played by Kate Lyn Sheil played a pretty good performance, as her character felt more developed than the others. Amy had a significant other in the past, as he too passed away dealing with the fact he knew his time is up in this world, like Amy is going through now. Jane Adams playing Jane played a pretty good performance as well, as she nailed the strangeness of this character. Just the way she goes on about with her friends and doctor, felt extremely awkward as it just makes you feel uncomfortable.
She Dies Tomorrow came to my attention, simply being a well received horror film, as I thought the poster looked pretty cool. I honestly didn’t know She Dies Tomorrow was a NeonRated film, until I saw the logo introduction in the opening credits, so I was then on looking forward in partaking this film. She Dies Tomorrow is honestly not what I was expecting at all, coming from a horror film. It caught me off guard, as I didn’t expect this to be a straight arthouse kind of film, which I can see the audience extremely hating this film. If you’re looking for a horror film that provides entertainment and frightening scares, this is certainly not going to be for you at all. Though I was caught off guard, as the experience felt completely strange... I honestly enjoyed this film a lot.
This is a type of film that requires you to think a lot, as there are elements in which this film is trying to say something within each character and within each prop as well. This film’s theme is based on death, as how we reflect on it, as we try to discover the meaning behind life itself. Often enough human beings rarely have time to reflect on life itself before they die, as a fair amount of people die within a blink of an eye, as nothing is promised. The feeling of knowing when exactly you’re going die a day before it happens, gives us enough time to reflect on the entire concept. When we have time to reflect on life... It becomes a troubling feeling, as you tend to struggle exactly what is the meaning behind all this?! The things we do, say, and how we react when reflected for a good period of time, just can feel extremely pointless, as life itself can feel entirely meaningless.
One major flaw could be said, is the fact this film shouts at you what this film is trying to say in one lone sequence. However this flaw could worth noted, due to the arthouse nature of this film the flaw can absolutely be necessary, in guiding one to understand the meaning of this film. In the beginning I thought this would be about, how ones world ends due to the lost of their significant other due to a breakup. Then later on with Jane I thought this could about mental health. I come to soon realize when the film maker shouts at me in one sequence, that I learn then on what this is about.
Each character represents some sort of significance, just by the process of reflecting on life just before you die. Jane devoting her life towards her career in science, realizing she never had a family of her own, as she’s a lonely person. Brian (Tunde Adebimpe) and Tilly (Jennifer Kim) realizing they forced themselves in a relationship neither want to continue due to Brian’s fathers medical condition, as both sides felt entirely unhappy. Jason (Chris Messina) and Susan (Kate Aselton) realizing most of the things they say or have done have become extremely pointless, while also can represent their good fortune becomes meaningless, as it doesn’t carry with them when it’s over. Amy can represent how we don’t do what we always wanted to do in life, until the very last minute. Amy can only represent regarding a form of leather, that we’re all just products in this world and nothing more than just that, which is a terrifying feeling indeed.
Couple props as well have significant meaning. For awhile I was trying to figure out what do the red and green lights that come about the characters way represent?! Then it hit me when Brian and Tilly are at the hospital, it’s the colors of the Heart Rate Monitor. So the flickering lights are indicating these characters are on their last life line on this earth, which is honestly pretty cool the way they did it. Couple props worth noticing is what’s in Jason’s house. We see a couple sign like posters, saying “You Are Alive” and “You Are Love”. What’s interesting about the signs, is the way they’re shaped. It’s shaped as a “Do Not Enter” sign you would see on the road. It could mean though we are alive in this world, we actually don’t necessarily live, which brings back to the discussion being nothing more than the prop. The “You Are Love” prop however can appear confusing. When it’s all said and done, does it mean when we’re gone, no one is going to love us moving forward?! It could be due to the fact we’re going to be remembered as images, as no one is going to really know us within I would say the next fifty years or so when we pass.
Another prop worth discussing is the painting, as which the human beings in that painting faces are entirely covered up. Could represent the fact that when we passed, we’ll be entirely forgotten. When it comes to human beings that are not celebrities and athletes, often times this will be the case that we will surely be forgotten in due time. The conclusion of this film t’was very striking. When we think it’s our time to die, we feel we can embrace that feeling, as our character in this film repeats she’s ok and that’s she’s ready to move on. But in reality just after she embraces it in confidence... The character then says she’s not ok. Though we feel we can embrace when our time is over in this world, we come to realize we were never ready to move on to begin with.
The film is effective in the sense of horror on this thought alone: The thought of reflecting for a good amount of time, before we die can feel extremely terrifying, as you come to realize there maybe no point to any of this. Along with the deep horror elements, the usage of comedy was unexpected yet effective. The conversations about Dolphins was weird yet funny, I also received a good laugh when Jane was entirely terrified when the lights went out, when it was time to sing Susan a Happy Birthday. What’s also a funny thought is the fact we never truly express our true feelings, until it’s our time to go, which our characters clearly show in this film. It’s definitely a film worth dissecting each element, as it can have many different meanings, as it’s a film that shall be deeply discussed with other film lovers.
Overall, She Dies Tomorrow t’was a strong solid film. I highly recommend this film, but be warned this isn’t for everyone, especially given the extreme arthouse nature of this film. Amy Seimetz I gotta say... Brava, well done job indeed! -Mitch Smietana