Dead

Don't ya just love a stoner comedy with a heart? Yeah. It's a thing. Perhaps "Pineapple Express" or "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" sparks a synapse?

"Death" is an indie tripper out of New Zealand about "Marbles", a pothead with a predilection to talk to ghosts (Thomas Sainsbury in an hilariously touching performance). Leave it to those kooky Kiwis to smash up smokin' j's, séances and serial killing jags into one sensationally silly saga with a serious side.

And the cop never puts on pants.

...then the entire movie ended up being. It kind of ended up being drawn out and not funny and a little too wacky. If the movie would have stuck with its humorous beginning and stayed like that throughout it would have been a much better watch.

I don't know if it's just the movies I've seen, or if Australian comedies are just a very particular type of comedy, that I don't completely get. The verbal delivery of every character is so cartoony and reminiscent of marionette shows. It's overly melodramatic and not credible as human beings speaking to one another. So the overwhelming majority of the comedy was always a little bit difficult for me to get into. Having said that there is one situational joke that I found hysterical that occurs outside a club. Without spoiling anything, I can say that when a character delivers the line "say no to that," was the absolute best part of the film for me. But every other scripted joke, or jokey banter between characters was cringy and forced, to me. There are also many jokes, premises and themes very significant to the story that revolve around what I can only assume is the filmmakers' attempt to be LGBTQ-friendly. Those were incredibly disappointing in their execution. I believe that this is the type of help-attempt that the LGBTQ community would say "thanks but no thanks" to. Having said that, the overall premise/storyline is cute. The pacing is good, as the movie doesn't spend too much time on unnecessary "universe building." We arrive right away in a world where we have to accept that a goof-ball stoner can see dead people, and one of them needs his help. Everything that ensues after that is silly and cute. Worth a watch, just for that exchange outside the club.

When I started off watching this I underestimated it greatly. The movie itself was very well made and while it may not appeal to some, I'd definitely recommend this to someone who's just bored and needs to pass time. But still. It was pretty good.

The cast & crew writers and director must be fans of peter Jackson's early stuff but also his breakout movie the frighteners.... it's flaws are indie movie flaws and nothing more.... it's a good time and will warm your heart!