Directed by: Tom Edmunds
Starring: Aneurin Barnard, Christopher Eccleston, Tom Wilkinson, Freya Mavor
Starring: Aneurin Barnard, Christopher Eccleston, Tom Wilkinson, Freya Mavor
Dead in a Week... Or Your Money Back is a particularly dark
comedy which never takes itself (or the scenario on which it's based) too
seriously. At times hilarious, at others perhaps a tad blasé, this movie
definitely has the vibe of dividing its audience.
William (Aneurin Barnard) is a depressed writer who, in his own
words, has been "beyond help" for some time. Having had none of his work
published and with no family to support him, this film's protagonist chooses
to be resolute in his decision to commit suicide as an escape from his
"meaningless existence." But death mocks William as he fails to kill himself
10 times.
As a result of his misfortune - so to speak - he decides to outsource his suicide by enlisting the services of ageing assassin Leslie (Tom Wilkinson): as part of the British Guild of Assassins, Leslie has to make up his death quota or face retirement. With the contract signed and his demise assured within a week (or his money back), William then suddenly discovers, however, his reasons to live as new opportunities finally come his way. At the same time, Leslie remains persistent in the quest to meet his quota despite his task seeming more difficult than first thought.
The issue for any dark comedy such as this is whether or not the line of
morality has been crossed in the film's script. In all honesty,
Dead in a Week... Or Your Money Back does a damn fine job at
creating a genuinely funny comedy - the writing (although not to everybody's
liking) doesn't stray too far into the realms of offensiveness and its witty
humour really does get you laughing: the eclectic mix of fine British acting
by Barnard, Freya Mavor, Wilkinson and
Christopher Eccleston also really contributes to the comical nature
of this film.
That said, we now rightly live in a world where mental health is every bit
as important as its physical sibling. As a result, the subject of mental
health has to be treated with great care in all forms of media, let alone
modern cinema. Suicide is a tragedy not only for the person who feels that
the only way to escape life's troubles is to cut their life short, but also
for that person's family and friends who then have to deal with the
inexorable grief that befalls them. With this film's controversial premise
in mind, it does call into question whether a script such as this is
tasteful in the current climate: particularly when jokes that feature in the
film are of a nature that might sit comfortably with the viewer at one
point, and then cross the line at the next.
At the same time, too much thought about the concept of this movie will
just deter from how Dead in a Week should be viewed. Although
division of opinion can be expected, take it at face value - an obscure, but
funny, comedy that's trying to make you laugh.
Dead in a Week... Or Your Money Back won't be for everyone.
Definitely do a little prior research and find out whether or not this type
of film is for you. If it is, then this dark comedy's hilarity will not let
you down.
Dead in a Week... Or Your Money Back is on Prime Video UK now.