Don’t Die (2023) Review

Don’t Die (2023) Review

A man in desperate need of life saving medication gets ensnared in a deadly drug trafficking conspiracy after a drugstore robbery goes wrong in a dark and disturbing new thriller

Don’t Die is a modestly mounted independent feature that makes effective use of its low-budget constraints, delivering a reasonably watchable film that moves at a steady pace and never outstays its welcome. While it may not be especially gripping, neither is it careless or shoddy, and there is enough craft on display to hold the viewer’s attention throughout.

Co-written and directed by Benjamin Stark, the film’s greatest asset is undoubtedly Theodus Crane in the role of Jenks. Crane brings an immediate warmth and relatability to the character, making it easy to invest in his predicament. There is an everyman quality to his performance that feels instantly familiar, as though he were someone you already know. It is difficult not to conclude that without Crane’s grounded and engaging presence, the film may have struggled to connect as effectively as it does.

Where Don’t Die falters is in its uncertain identity. Like several recent releases, it has been marketed as a horror film, a label that feels misleading and may well damage its reception among audiences expecting more traditional genre thrills. In reality, the film sits closer to the territory of suspense-driven crime drama, with only the faintest brushstrokes of horror.

Its thematic ambitions are intriguing, if underdeveloped. The antagonists’ plan to harvest Jenks’ organs for the benefit of another raises moral questions, though the script never fully reconciles the obvious contradiction that Jenks himself also requires those same organs. There are hints of social commentary here—perhaps a critique of the American healthcare system, perhaps an exploration of desperation and exploitation—but these ideas remain frustratingly muddled.

Ultimately, Don’t Die seems unsure of the genre it wishes to inhabit, straddling several modes without fully committing to any of them. The result is a film that proves competent across the board but exceptional in none: a jack of all trades, and master of none.

Credit: Don’t Die is on UK digital 27 April from Miracle Media

Trailer