User reviews

My love for disturbing movies is brought up again after watching this fantastic film. Awesome graphics, raw emotion, and a realistic portrayal of human suffering is demonstrated throughout.

The actor who claimed Archie's role was both charming and relatable with his honest personality. His crush, Sierra, is the typical gorgeous blonde, but we find that she has way more to herself than her killer looks. I really liked this because it's a reminder that we truly never know a person until...well...until we get to know them.

This movie had me laughing, crying, and gaping at the screen as the fantasy-like animation and true-to-life filming switched back and forth. (Usually not in an obnoxious way, but some people might not like it.) It also does display pornography and nudity (not excessively, but perhaps enough to make someone uncomfortable) along with lots of swearing, so it may not suit everyone.

Though it was a strange and risky movie, it is definitely an awesome film. 4/5

Why are "teen movies" synonymous with campy, cheesecake, potty humor flicks that numb your brain into senselessness? Don't get me wrong, I loved "Porky's" as much as any hormone-drenched youth. But here, it's a real treat to see a "teen flick" with some real guts.

I hope my first paragraph didn't scare you off, because it would've scared me off if I'd been told that this film is about teen issues. Been there, done that, never wanna go back. My entire life was "The Breakfast Club" only I never got the girl :( But "Archie's Final Project" is done in such a creative, provocative way that you'll find yourself glued to the screen from the first 5 minutes.

Archie introduces the film by announcing he's going to kill himself by the end. This simple trick establishes a feeling of suspense that never lets up, even during the lighter, comedic moments. Note: do NOT miss the deleted scene on the DVD featuring the hilarious Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, Spinal Tap, etc) as the new-age healer. Perhaps they cut it because it was TOO funny.

As the title suggests, "Archie's Final Project" is his project for a high school video class. With that premise it can get away with a lot of quirky, over-stylized, A.D.D. type effects as only a teenage amateur film student could do. But in it you'll find a degree of poetry, depth and authenticity that only a teenage amateur film student could do. Stylistically, it's daring enough to do things that most directors would be afraid to try. But it's not just empty style. The themes are very deep, and (largely thanks to David Carradine playing the magnetic & enigmatic cult poet) it injects some profound philosophy in the midst of the spectacle.

Like I said, it's very authentic. This is largely due to an excellent performance by Gabriel Sunday as the loner kid whom nobody really knows about. Basically the whole film is a string of his monologues, but they never get boring. A nice touch was the way he constantly slips into doing impressions of classic films, including but not limited to: The Deer Hunter, The Matrix, Cool Hand Luke, Apocalypse Now, and half a dozen others I didn't recognize.

In all, this film makes me think of how Catcher in the Rye would've been if set in modern times with HD cameras and multimedia editing software. It's literature on the big screen. Absolutely brilliant.

The first 20 minutes or so I found my self rolling my eyes and irritated with the main character. But I think I was supposed to. This movie was over the top at times, but it still had something important to say. By the end, I felt very much invested in this character and why he does what he does. It certainly isn't perfect but I'm happy I stuck it out to see the message.

I attended the North American Premiere of "My Suicide" at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival where it screened to a sold-out 1300-seat Paramount Theatre. I'm always looking for the "sweet little American indie." You can now add "My Suicide" to the list -- although "sweet" and "little" may not apply. It's more of a "heartwrenching big American indie." When his high school class is instructed to submit a class project, Archie Williams (Gabriel Sunday) has the perfect video in mind -- he'll film his own suicide. Classmates and adults alike reel in horror at the prospect, but some aren't so disturbed by it. Count among them the vivacious Sierra Silver (Brooke Nevin), every boy's wet dream, whose fascination with Archie's idea is puzzling to the self-professed loner. As friends, family, and an assorted flock of professionals come out of the woodwork in well-intentioned attempts to dissuade him from this act, he begins to wake up to the reality that he's not alone in his pain.

"My Suicide" was directed by David Lee Miller from a story he co-wrote with his son Jordan. The screenplay was written by David along with Eric J. Adams and star Gabriel Sunday. The film was edited by Jordan and Gabriel.

Miller had his hands firmly at the wheel but was able to throw many conventions out the window because much of what we are seeing is through the eyes of a high school student -- Archie (Gabriel Sunday), not Miller. Although many young people are keenly aware of how to make amateur video look professional, there was a danger in production values being of too high quality. So, much like the mind of a teenager, the first act in particular is a cinematic assault on the senses, with frenetic cuts, chaotic sound, and dazzling visuals. Still, Miller's movie makes the most of its small budget and cuts no such corners.

"My Suicide" is actually quite amusing as events unfold. Once the viewer gets past the initial shock of Archie's plans it becomes apparent that life in a YouTube world can be a hallucinatory pleasure. Counterintuitively, living in Archie's suicidal mind is a high from which we never want to come down. But, like any mind-altering substance, we know it won't last. The film turns dark as expected but in completely unexpected ways.

This is clearly Gabriel Sunday's film. Now 23, he was only 19 when production began in early 2005. His performance as the tortured teen left many audience members shaking their heads in wonder. The ability to carry a film like this is quite rare for a young actor with such a small body of work to his credit, let alone the fact that he had such a large hand in writing, shooting, and editing the film. This was only his first feature -- he's done a bit of television, mostly after "My Suicide" was filmed. Many more are sure to follow.

Brooke Nevin is a delight as Archie's foil, occasional foe, and would-be friend. Her character is destined to either unravel Archie's plans or cement them. It is a tribute to Nevin's ability to keep her emotions close to the vest that viewers are constantly being challenged.

In addition to Sunday and Nevin, the all-star cast features star turns from David Carradine as the legendary poet Vargas and Joe Mantegna as the shrink who earns Archie's trust. Mariel Hemingway is delightful as Sierra's clueless, narcissistic mother. Some of the film's most heartwrenching, tear-inducing scenes owe their power to Nora Dunn's loving portrayal of Archie's mom and some of the classmates who enter Archie's life, in particular Zachary Ray Sherman (Corey) and Michael Welch (Earl). Supporting cast members all show great dedication to the project, including Vanessa Lengies, Tony Hale, and Kurtis Bedford.

The concept of a movie within a movie is certainly not new but the level to which the idea is executed here is simply breathtaking. Miller and his team have created a technological marvel that never allows the stunning visuals to overshadow the film's urgent message. This is one of those rare films that not only can be appreciated by just about anyone but should -- must be seen by anyone who has ever searched for love and acceptance. In short, everyone.

This film is about a boy who suffers from the fantasy unique to our age: the belief that one's entire life is a movie. The Truman Show is a good example of this: the notion that one's entire life is so perfect, so banal, repetitious and ordinary, that it must be scripted-- it cannot possibly be real. So this boy, Archie, records as much of his life as he possibly can on video, and edits it together in his room.

The problem is, no matter how much of his life he makes into a movie, it still feels meaningless. So he announces in his high school film class that he will make a movie in which he kills himself. That will be the plot and the grand finale.

His entire neighborhood starts gossiping about him, and his life changes enormously. This is when his real movie-making starts. Suicide is always lurking near him, and the entire movie is a play on various questions of suicide: when we kill ourselves, what are we doing? Is every death a 'suicide' because of the necessarily unsafe ways we live our lives? Is suicide an act of freedom and defiance, or of conformity and weakness-- or neither?

Some great cameos from unexpected actors add to the film a lot.

This is one of those rare films that covers the entire emotional spectrum, and does so effortlessly. It is as hilarious as it is tragic, as fragmented as it is thorough. If it receives the distribution it deserves, it will be a hit.

I like this movie's unique style, my only problem with it was the fact that I found no reason there needed to be shots filmed by an actual cameraman. The acting is great from these otherwise unknown actors and it has great themes tackled very sensitively. It's also got some funny and well-executed reference humor that not many films like this do well. Very well-made a unique film that is recommended, but I wouldn't watch it beyond a second time.

I can only agree with the other comments. MY SUICIDE is a true find, and will hopefully make its way into international cinemas. Despite the fine cast, including established thesps like Joe Mantegna, Mariel Hemingway and David Carradine, it is a true independent film with a small budget, but skillfully done, and spiced with such a sharp sense of humour, a lot of energy, heart and food for thought. It doesn't play dumb for the audience, but stays easily accessible throughout without ever becoming trivial. Main actor / co-writer / co-editor / producer Gabriel Sunday (here wrongfully credited with the role Holden, rather than Archie) shows so much talent that you can almost turn envious. There'll be more to see of him in the future for sure! The wicked editing and compositing, the multi-format footage, and the congenial animation add-ons never feel contrived, but spice the film with a young look that will hit the youthful viewers especially. You can watch MY SUICIDE just for entertainment (even after the laughable scenes get replaced by the more serious themes), you can watch it for pointers and understanding - your own troubles, your friends' or your kid's. But you should watch it nonetheless! Just hope you'll get the chance. Fingers crossed this film will get the publicity it deserves!

Yellow Submarine meets Pulp Fiction. Once you've past the 101 film making tricks -- fast-paced editing, animation and more--the story and the characters grow on you. The dark comedy follows Archie(Gabriel Sunday), an unpopular junior in high school who announces in his video production class he will commit suicide on camera for his final class project. After a mandatory 72-hour mental evaluation,Archie returns to school to learn he's become popular. He's approached by Sierra (Brooke Nevin), the foxy school president and editor of the school newspaper who wants to do a story on him, but Archie soon learns Sierra also has an interest in suicide. Stars Mariel Hemingway, Nora Dunn, Tony Hale ("Arrested Development") Joe Mantegna, Harry Shearer and the late David Carradine. The film could easily become The Breakfast club for generation Y. It could open doors not only to a creative young group of film makers but it could offer answers to teens who desperately need attention at whatever cost. So, if you're a teacher, parent, a teen, or friend of a teen, go see the film - it deserves your attention.

I just saw this movie earlier tonight at a screening, and I can honestly say that it was an excellent movie. I do hope that it gets a theatrical release. It was very different from any other movie that I have ever seen and I think that's what makes it so interesting and delightful. It is a little dark and has a lot of vulgar language, but that it was makes the movie so realistic and able to relate to. And then again, it is about suicide. Also, the movie has a great message and has a a compelling way to get through to the audience, and more importantly, the youth. Because the youth is what it is mainly targeting towards. Definitely go see it because not a lot of movies like this are out there.

Archie's Final Project is more than a movie about a young 17-year-old boy planning to kill himself on camera. It is about self-discovery and the intangible value of human emotion everybody possesses. The dialogue is straightforward and blunt while the screenplay paints a comedic picture to shadow the dark and disturbing undertones. It is highly cliched with the plot centering on how Archie wants to lose his virginity, feels misunderstood by his parents, and fantasizes about the most popular girl in school. While at some points it does get repetitive and might not seem original the progression of the story pulls this film together perfectly. The first half of the movie has a hard time expressing emotion, often sounding monotone with more to be desired in the scriptwriting. However, as each main character develops and climaxes it is clear what the intentions were behind filmmaker David Lee Miller. The movie was designed to progress slowly, and while only having a 2-hour runtime the thorough design of each character puts your mind in a constant state of questioning what happens next and what each action's outcome will be.

Gabriel Sunday does an all-right job of displaying what his character is feeling. There are flashes in the first half of the film of his ability to convey raw emotion which pan out more directly in the second half. However, there are several scenes where Gabriel couldn't convey the attitude of a suicidal teenager just right. As previously said the first half of the movie can be seen as very boring as little character is presented and while we are supposed to feel the pain of Archie's character and understand why he wants to commit suicide, it ends up coming across as a dumb teen pulling a stunt for no real reason. The real issue is the first half of this movie because in the second half the character of Archie very much comes to life and I liked Gabriel's performance for the most part. While it is a slow-paced character development, there is slightly more to be desired. With that said the character arch itself is very well done. Archie becomes very unique and human nature shines through.

The supporting cast is undoubtedly this movie's biggest weakness. Archie's parents are acted out as if a real disgruntled 14-year-old teen wrote how he felt about his parents, but not in a good way. The social workers and teachers act as if the movie is a comedy. While the first half of the movie is supposed to be funny while being very dark it doesn't fit the plot. It is sloppy. It is unenjoyable. It is unrelatable. They do not seem like real people. The only other good character is Archie's love interest Sierra played by Brooke Nevin. Brooke, I feel fits Sierra much better than Gabriel fits Archie. She is beautiful, has perfect skin, acts with an apathetic demeanor when defending Archie from bullies, and most definitely fits the popular girl trope of not caring about other people's opinions. Her acting is flawless. You truly do become attached to her as a character and there is not one moment where she doesn't land her lines perfectly. You would never suspect she is the girl who is troubled just like Archie and does a way better job at showing how self-harm affects her mental state rather than Gabriel. 10/10 character and I wish the rest of the acting was this good.

Taking everything into account, this movie can be described as flawed, disinteresting, sometimes laughable, and boring. However, I believe for people who want a raw and uncensored view into the headspace of a teenager today and how human emotion impacts every aspect of every life then this is for you. I very much enjoyed this movie and while my attention span tested me throughout, the last 45 minutes are impeccable with few flaws. The idea of having the majority of the movie take place through the lens of Archie's camera was great. The lighting was perfect. Every scene was shot beautifully. The aesthetic was consistent. The only thing that brings this movie down is the poorly executed exposition. The rising actions put you in suspense. The climax makes your heart race. The character development is phenomenal. The ability to make your body go through a roller coaster of emotions while not always having the best tone is astounding. The plot is very straightforward. The writing is perplexing. The music score sets each mood perfectly. But most of all, the mood change from the first half to the second half is shot with perfection. I would recommend everybody watch this remarkable film at least once as it does a fantastic job of showing how suicide harms more than just yourself.

Plot: 7/10 Entertainment Value: 4/10 Depth: 9/10 Acting: 5/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Soundtrack: 10/10 Execution: 7/10 Overall: 7.1/10.

Just saw "My Suicide" at the Berlin Film Festival, where it was hidden in the "Generation" section for children's and youth-related movies. It is hard to describe the story and visual experience of this movie in just a few lines, so to spare you an extensive review, I'll just say this: "My Suicide" is one of the most powerful, most inventive and most thought-provoking movies in years, constructed in a tour-de-force of virtuoso editing (finishing this movie after principal photography took three years) that will blow the mind of any real film lover on this planet. And it is the most insightful, intelligent movie I have ever seen on the topic of teenage suicide. "My Suicide" is surely not only the best film of the entire festival, but one of the best films of this year - if somebody is daring enough to pick it up and distribute it properly. I pray for all movie freaks out there that somebody does.

I really enjoyed this touching, low budget indie. The film has a very unique style that I enjoyed, with the way it switches between it's daydream like animation and normal. Crazy, experimental, and inventive, but that's what makes it so interesting and special. It's different than anything I have seen and I found the visuals to be captivating. Maybe slightly dated, but that didn't detract at all for me. If anything, it gave me an early 2000's nostalgic feel.

It was surprisingly intelligent and insightful. Lots of tonal shifts, but it covers the whole emotional spectrum seamlessly. Heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time and a sharp, witty sense of humor that captures the heart of the character and teenage angst well. It leaves you with lots of food for thought. It has some intriguing philosophy that leaves you with some fantastic quotes and monologues about its deep themes. It's relatable, though not meant in an edgy way. It brings up for discussion some of the darker thoughts that creep into everyone's mind sometimes.

Archies' character felt tangible, and there were well done portrayals of human anguish all around. I also really liked the movie's soundtrack. Although I realize this movie isn't perfect and I could understand if some thought it was flawed or cliched, for now it holds a sweet spot with me.

8.8/10

I had to stop watching it due to the camera shaking so much.

My Suicide, which had its U.S. Premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival, is a mesmerizing feature film with a brilliant script and remarkable editing. It takes one inside the modern American teenagers' world of angst, anger and technology. While it sometimes seems like one is watching an extended You Tube video that is really the way that the style is designed to appear as if it was filmed by a teenager filming the process leading up to his own suicide. The characters draw the audience into the story of teenager Archie Williams – masterfully acted by Gabriel Sunday – who announces one day in film class that his project is to film his own suicide. The premise is absurd, but so are the reactions. The film ultimately serves to critique the soulless life in middle class suburbia that would lead a bright young man to despair about the value of his own life. In that sense, My Suicide follows in a great tradition of suburban satire that is seen in films like Happiness, American Beauty and, most recently, Revolutionary Road. The writers also manage to use a wide variety of satirical quotes from a variety of modern classics – such as Goodfellas, Silence of the Lambs, and Apocalypse Now. They further incorporate animation and public service advertisements.

Ironically, this film which begins as a quest to commit suicide ultimately finds a way to be life-affirming through its exploration of why Archie is suicidal and his burgeoning relationship with Sierra – played by the beautiful Brooke Nevin. The acting is generally very good and the filming is excellent. I hope this independent effort is widely distributed. It will be particularly appealing to young people who will relate to its fast-paced editing and style. Archie Williams may well be the Holden Caulfield of the 21st Century.

As one personally sympathetic to the real biological threat and urge of suicide, this movie was entirely drivel. This was a social media movie with a hook. I did enjoy the cinematic indictments on the loose orbit of the "successful" parents. And I did enjoy the pushback on the formulaic talking heads around this topic. However in the fake suicide portrayed on film, the protagonist says to several people that he 'feels responsible' for the suicide loss. You are. Framing suicide within the anti-social, pro-social media playground is literally a "how to" on the beginnings of the end of life. How much more real life can you make it?

I saw a screening of this film about a year ago, when it was still being fine-cut, but it still contained an emotional intensity which stayed with me for days after. Stylistically, the film is constantly engaging. It switches between documentary-style footage shot by the main character and a combination of animation and roto-scoping techniques that give the film a unique look and feel. The true achievement of this film is that it deals with teenage depression, apathy, escapism, and violence in a way that engages both teens and adults. The film avoids devolving into melodrama, which considering the subject material, is a feat unto itself. Without giving too much away, this film shatters preconceptions about issues (especially the cliché of the suburban American teen who is disconnected from reality) which have been depicted in many films, but have not been treated in a mature fashion.

Thank you, Netflix, for introducing me to this little gem. Archie's Final Project (or, listed on Netflix by its original title, "My Suicide") caught my eye due to its themes of teen suicide and school controversies; I was the subject of a similar school controversy myself at 12-years-old that resulted in my expulsion and attempted suicide before such things were really discussed and explored in depth. Thus, anything that features these important themes attracts me like a fly to light.

Gabriel Sunday plays Archie Williams, a 17-year-old media geek who announces to his media class that his final project will be to film his suicide. He also seems to believe his entire life is a movie--as another review said, this is another interesting take on the Truman Show delusion that serves its own twists and turns. Thus begins one of the most unique and interesting movies I've ever seen. My Suicide is filmed almost like a documentary, as if we are, in fact, watching Archie's final project after his planned suicide. Interwoven between scenes of the aftermath of Archie's suicide film announcement are montages of colorful teenage visual ramblings, further character development of Archie and his troubled crush Sierra, and bursts of dark comedy. Sunday is absolutely mesmerizing to watch as Archie; he was just 19 when he played the role, and he plays it so believably. Undeniably charming, troubled, awkward, odd, yet fantastically skilled at playing both sides of the line between comedy and tragedy, Sunday is nothing short of amazing, and his few film/TV credits since this are baffling to me. Why in the world isn't this man in more stuff?

A total surprise to me was Sierra's inclusion in the story (played by Brooke Nevin). At first, I thought she would distract the film from its suicidal/teen angst themes and instead focus it on teenage romance. While there is an undeniable romantic connection between Archie and Sierra, it is realistically grounded in tragedy, a skewed immature teen vision of love (shown perfectly in a surprisingly intimate mutual cutting scene), and a shared troubled mental state. My Suicide is at times hard to watch because you are watching confused teens make bad decisions or simply refuse to take important decisions seriously with lax attitudes at the risk of fatal consequences; yet, because of that, it is utterly realistic and devastating. This movie made me both laugh out loud and dread the eventual ending as I feared these characters would make the ultimate decision. Without spoilers, I can say that at least one teenager in the movie commits suicide; while the act itself isn't shown, the aftermath is (including the body) and it's soul-wrenching. It's a depressingly beautiful scene that wallows in its finality and shocking morbidity; as someone who has attempted suicide, I appreciated the way this scene was handled.

My Suicide appears to have been quite the indie darling upon its release in 2009, evidenced by its many awards at multiple film festivals. It deserves them all, though they clearly didn't give the film the exposure it truly deserves. At times delightfully comedic and at other times oppressively tragic, My Suicide starts out like a teenager's school project and seems to mature along with its protagonist as the seconds go by and the darker themes crawl over each scene like an oppressive fog. Every second of its journey is interesting and hit me close to the heart.

This movie is amazing. I cant even put it into words. I made an account on this website just to rate it ten stars and write a positive review. If you are not triggered by things such as suicide or cutting, I highly reccomend you watch this movie. I was a little weary of it at first with the intro seeming like it would just be a whole movie of excessive editing and craziness, but I realized soon enough that it was actually a beautiful coming of age story in a media project style. I watched it and by the end I was crying. The heavy editing really adds to the whole media project feel of it, and honestly it makes it all come together. The acting is phenomenal, the story is phenomenal, just everything about it. It dives deep into mental health in ways other films are too scared to. It brings it into a comedic light but gets serious when it needs to be. There were many parts where I laughed, and occasionally cried. It is a rollercoaster of emotions and I loved every second of it, even the sad seconds. I think it is one of my favorite movies now. And it really understands high school. It seems very realistic. This is coming from myself, a high schooler. I simply love this movie. It is not a waste of time to watch. I reccomend it highly.

What a boring film. I went into this film thinking I was going to see a ground breaking and boundary pushing film about high school social issues, or depression, or atleast an interesting and dark subject matter. What I got instead was the equivalent of NyQuil. The Sporadic editing, to the bland acting, and nothing script made this film only worth watching for the strange and borderline funny cameos from actors of far more entertaining TV shows. This film is currently on Netflix and I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. It's only offensive to a person's brain cells and a kindergartener could write a more intriguing script.