We meet Sabrina (Marigold Pazar) as she's lying in a bathtub. It would appear she's dying from a suicide attempt, though writer/director Anmol Mishra keeps the story muddied throughout and we're never quite sure. She's having flashbacks, it would seem, to a traumatic incident in her kitchen. Thus begins the journey of this 77-minute indie horror/drama that both experimental and surreal with an occasional Lynchian tone that mostly reminds us there was no one truly like Lynch and Mishra certainly isn't. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm into the experimental side of cinema and I'm most certainly willing to go infinitely dark, however, Death seems to be overly obsessed with its weirdness and I can't say I gave a hoot about the story, its characters, or much of anything else. Was it the worst film I've seen this year? Oh heavens no. I'm perfectly fine with weird flicks, however, weird for the sake of being weird is a whole lot less appealing. 

The story, and I use that word lightly, that unfolds is a surrealistic tale focused on a quartet of interconnected folks including Sabrina, of course, along with Wendy (Lauren Johnson), Romeo (David Hecimovic), and Mazza (Oliver James Damian). Romeo is Sabrina's fiance' while Mazza is an intriguing chap whose girlfriend of sorts is Wendy. Wendy, as it turns out, is an old pal of Sabrina's and a former friend with benefits. 

Your tolerance for truly experimental cinema will very likely determine your appreciation for Death. The independent film is now available via streaming channels such as AppleTV, Google Movies, and Gumroad. 

There are moments in Death when I thought we might be turning a corner and the film would suddenly give me a bit of an Aha! moment. Alas, the film's stylized disorientation just never quite connects. Separately, there are intriguing moments here including a dance sequence that is interesting to watch and characters that command attention even if you don't know why. I found myself particularly enchanted by Lauren Johnson's Wendy. 

There's no question this is a low-budget indie with a reported $30,000 production budget. It's clear that Mishra was aiming for the cinematic stars with this one and it's hard not to admire the ambition even if the final product doesn't quite live up to that ambition. 

What can I say? Sometimes, I just don't like a film. I didn't like Death. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic