Review of A Horrible Way to Die (2010) by Ruby H — 03 Jul 2013

A good thing about low-budget indie films is that the director can go about realizing his or her vision without dreaded studio interference and box-office expectations. Here, Adam Wingard, is taking the narrow road and mostly succeeds.

It is all more impressive when you realize that the wobbly camera work will stick until the end and that the plot will develop at its own leisure. But every scene is beautifully captured in dim lights and melancholic colors, in cold rural landscapes and Christmas-lighted bedrooms, all emphasizing some of the worse feelings, namely, addiction and living in fear. Warm, fuzzy and horrifyingly physical.

Cast is great, supporting cast especially. The score is fantastic and perfectly supplements the director's flawless editing. Blood and gore are neither here nor there, a striking scene or two and that's about it.

Perhaps the best compliment I could give the film would be that it reminded me of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Not for everyone then but I liked it.