Sometimes I Think About Dying – A Flawed Breath of Fresh Air

Sometimes I Think About Dying had its world premiere at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and is finally upon us. The film centers around Fran (Ridley), a socially awkward office worker who spends most of her time in isolation and daydreams about her own death. One day, she strikes up a relationship with a new co-worker named Robert (Merheje) which would soon lead to something more. Ultimately, the only thing that stood in her way to true happiness was herself. At the end of the day, the film is just a breath of fresh air and one of the first great films released this year and hopefully, it is one that will be discovered by a lot more audiences once it becomes more widely released via more viewing platforms and increasingly available to the general public.

Ridley is an extraordinary actress who’s historically had some really bad luck in the entertainment industry and has seldom been given the chance to shine despite her talent. Not only is this easily the best performance of Ridley’s career, but it is also one that is so different from anything she’s ever done before, potentially marking a turning point in her career that could lead to more dramatic roles in the near future. Ridley delivers such a quiet, subdued, and understated performance that not everyone could pull off, but she perfectly conveys every thought and feeling that the extremely introverted and socially awkward Fran faced over the course of the film. She is the type of character who says a lot without saying much, and watching her personal journey was fascinating and engaging and will surely be relatable to many audiences facing the same issues. Merheje, as Robert, is another major highlight and truly impresses in his supporting role. Fran and Dave strike up a unique and unusual relationship and have great chemistry which makes it very easy to latch onto them as audiences get to know more about them.

Director Rachel Lambert creates an almost dreamlike atmosphere and beautifully captures the mundane setting and characters to the point where one is like a fly on the wall, merely watching these character go about their day-to-day lives. Meanwhile, the film explores a wide range of different themes, from the mundane day, to suicidal thoughts and ideations, social anxiety, and melancholia, and while it may leave some viewers cold, it will undoubtedly leave an impact on those who fully engage with it. To that point, it is hard to really categorize the film. Though it deals with some heavy topics and has a certain sadness to it, it never becomes overbearing or cloying, has some surprisingly very funny and warm hearted moments, and ends on a rather optimistic note.

While there aren’t any major problems with Sometimes I Think About Dying, there are a few minor issues that hold it back from reaching true greatness. The biggest one of those is how the storyline is stretched a bit thin as a result of it being adapted from a short film. It never drags and it’s appropriately only 93-minutes long but there are times where it feels like it would’ve been better suited either as a short or one with more material added in. While the surreal dreamlike sequences are necessary to the film and are well done, ultimately serving a purpose, they are the least engaging part of it as its more straightforward aspects are where it really soars. There could have more done during its dream sequences, but they are shown in the most basic way imaginable.

Overall, Sometimes I Think About Dying is without a doubt one of the main highlights of the year so far and one whose subject matter is likely to resonate with those who can get on its wavelength. It might move a little too slow or be too off-putting for some but Daisy Ridley’s undeniably great performance and its near universal themes are incredibly timely. While it might not be a slam dunk, it is rock solid and absolutely worth seeking out.

still courtesy of Vortex Media

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Connor Carey

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