(Fantasia ’24) Review of “Dead Dead Full Dead”: Surreal crime thriller • AIPT

The “crime” ensemble has experienced a comeback in recent years, with films such as Knife out and Kenneth Branagh’s interpretations of some of Agatha Christie’s novels. Dead, dead, full, dead is a world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival that puts a surreal spin on the plot. Two police officers are called to investigate a murder. It seems like a clear case, but the more they investigate the suspects, the more unsure they are of what really happened.

Dead, dead, full, dead goes beyond the realm of the mysterious and becomes something far more cosmic. A shocking incident involving a baby goat early on is just the beginning of a series of strange events. A solar eclipse, dead bodies that can die again, and purgatory are just some of the insanity the film has to offer. It’s a fun mix that can be a little too overwhelming at times.

This is most evident in the investigative flashbacks used. These moments are nice ideas in which the investigators put themselves in the shoes of the alibis of the people being interrogated. These scenes provide insight into all the characters and at the same time provide a motive for what happened.

They’re also very confusing. Reality is distorted and it can be difficult to follow exactly what’s happening. It’s especially confusing when people in the real world have strong feelings about what happened in their dream scenarios. While it makes sense that they would have strong feelings of guilt about what happened, it’s also never addressed that it’s not real. It would make more sense if the characters questioned what just happened.

This could be the point Dead, dead, full, dead. Time and regret are recurring themes, with references and memories of the past sprinkled throughout. Whether it’s big events like a first meeting or smaller things like emojis, there’s a constant imagining of how things could have been better. Everyone is in a state of reflection.

The deeper parts of the film are balanced by a wacky humor that fits perfectly. While many of the jokes are over the top, some are delivered with a surprising amount of subtlety. There are even some visual gags that keep the audience guessing as to what will happen next. In total, Dead, dead, full, dead is a unique blend of heavy ideas, silly comedy, and murder. There are a lot of moving parts and it can all be a lot to take in. Still, it’s consistently entertaining.

The Fantasia International Film Festival runs from July 18 to August 4. Find the latest news HERE.

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