Before I'm Dead

After the trailer peeked my interest, I had high expectations. I'm happy to say Im satisfied. It's a low budget film with actors I've never seen before, but I thought the movie had sharp realistic dialogue, a unique plot and plenty of great twists throughout the movie. Its refreshing to see something so new and unique.

One must give credit to J. R. Sawyers for starring, directing and co-writing this mini-budgeted film as one has to assume that he thought he was onto something, but he wasn't. At least not anything comprehensible. It mostly initially seems like the mental meltdown of an agoraphobic man who suffered a terrible tragedy, but that's blown out of the water when another person "hallucinates" something similar, so perhaps the goings on are something supernatural?! There are also "events" that are date sequenced for our benefit so that we can understand what he is seeing also suggesting something supernatural, but the final scene kind of suggests something ghostly, but perhaps that's supernatural as well. Who knows. It holds your attention a bit as you try to understand what this is all about. I sure don't know, though I assume Sawyers does, but he is keeping it a secret from us.

After viewing the film, it's clear that the critics are primarily gun enthusiasts. The film itself isn't political at all. It's about how one man is severely dealing with agoraphobia after a mass shooting. There are some flashbacks to this shooting and its obviously negative, but it's not political. Obviously this will unsettles those who support gun rights. Don't let their opinions deter you. The film offers a compelling narrative, skillfully told and worth watching.

Disregard the negative reviews from gun advocates who are unfairly targeting this film. It's intriguing to observe the intense animosity directed at this modest production.

Boring as hell, guy stuck in an apartment moaning woe is me whilst some apparent wormhole or singularity ripped a hole in his toilet!

This is not Scifi do not let them fool you it is barely a drama.

Incomprehensible mumbo jumbo you can stick it right up your bumbo!

The film centers around Nolan, a man whose life has quietly unraveled following the death of his wife. Withdrawing from the world, he becomes a shut-in, haunted by guilt, grief, and increasingly strange occurrences that blur the line between reality and hallucination. As the story unfolds, viewers are taken on a psychological journey that's as much about internal reckoning as it is about unraveling a mystery.

What makes Before I'm Dead compelling is its minimalism. The film uses limited locations, a small cast, and sparse dialogue to reflect Nolan's mental and emotional isolation. That approach won't appeal to every viewer-some may find the pacing too slow or the plot too abstract-but it's intentional. Sawyers isn't trying to entertain in a traditional sense; he's inviting the audience into Nolan's headspace, and it's not a comfortable place to be.

The performance by J. R. Sawyers, who also stars in the film, is quite affecting. There's an authenticity to his portrayal of someone numbed by loss. The supporting cast is sparse but effective, particularly in dreamlike sequences that hint at deeper emotional wounds.

Cinematography plays a crucial role in maintaining the film's eerie, claustrophobic tone. The use of shadows, stillness, and narrow framing underscores Nolan's emotional entrapment. There are moments when the visuals alone-haunting reflections, flickering lights, and disorienting close-ups-carry more narrative weight than the dialogue. The score is similarly restrained, enhancing the tension without overwhelming it.

One of the film's strengths lies in its ambiguity. It doesn't spoon-feed answers. Are the strange events in Nolan's house supernatural, psychological, or symbolic? The film leaves space for interpretation, which might frustrate some but will engage others who enjoy piecing together meaning through subtext and visual clues.

Thematically, Before I'm Dead explores grief, guilt, and the human tendency to hide from pain rather than confront it. It touches on mental health, the difficulty of connection in a digital age, and the ways people punish themselves for their perceived failures. Though the story is small in scope, its emotional implications are broad.

Still, Before I'm Dead is a bold, introspective piece of indie cinema that dares to sit with uncomfortable emotions. It doesn't offer easy resolutions or dramatic payoffs, but it resonates in its quiet moments of truth and sorrow. It's the kind of film that lingers-not because of what happens, but because of how it makes you feel.