What do you get when you take absurdist humor and blend it with Tarantino-like violence?
You get Why Don’t You Just Die!, the latest feature film from Russian writer and director Kirill Sokolov. The film opens on a young man standing outside a doorway, a hammer in hand. Matvey (Aleksandr Kuznetsov) continues to ring the doorbell, hitting his chest and hyping himself up. Though the audience is unaware as to the context behind this scene, it’s easy to imagine that things are leading in a violent direction.
Eventually, the door is answered and we meet Andrey (Vitaliy Khaev). He’s a big man and irked by Matvey’s presence. Matvey says he is the boyfriend of Olya (Evgeniya Kregzhde), Andrey’s daughter. He reluctantly invites him in; upon entering Andrey’s home, Matvey sees that his wife Tasha (Elena Shevchenko) is also present. Andrey is immediately suspicious of Matvey’s intentions (especially when the latter’s hammer accidentally falls on the floor). After some time passes with loads of awkward tension in the air, the two begin duking it out. We come to find out that Olya asked Matvey to kill her father, given a grave injustice he did upon her.
From the moment Matvey and Andrey begin beating the ever-living hell out of each other, WDYJD turns into an utter blast of chaos. Between all the fighting and escalating drama, the film feels like a boulder rolling down a hill, on its way to an inevitable, gigantic crash. Though in WDYJD’s case, that crash is pretty damn interesting. What starts out as a revenge tale turns into a whole lot more.
Amplifying the thrills of this experience is a fun array of characters. Among them, Andrey, his partner Yevgenich (Michael Gor), and Olya make for the more compelling characters. However, the rest of the main cast takes a backseat to them. While Tasha speaks up here and there, she mostly chills in the background timidly; Matvey is primarily present to take a beating.
In a manner akin to Pulp Fiction, WDYJD plays around with perspective and time. Over time, the audience begins to learn more about each character. Important details are revealed with each perspective shift, such as Andrey’s shadiness as a crooked detective, and how a recent decision of his will have an impact on events to come. Little by little, through each perspective, the audience gains more context behind the bombastic bloodshed taking place.
And wow is this movie violent. From Matvey being thrown into a wall to having a power drill inserted into his leg, this dude takes a brutal beating. But for the most part, so much of WDYJD’s violence is comical; many of the film’s elements are over the top, which all work in its favor. From the joyful music to the kinetic cinematography and tense character interactions, WDYJD goes all-out on high energy. It’s delightfully funny, with the heightened aggression leading the way for laugh out loud moments.
That said, the film does provide a serious component that works in contrast to its comedic aspect. In a director statement, Sokolov shares how the film is meant to be an emotional rollercoaster that reflects life in Russia, modern relationships, and societal attitudes. As the emotional component of the narrative begins to further develop, that rollercoaster vibe kicks in. The film successfully brings the viewer goofy highs and somber lows. Embracing concepts such as greed and desperation, WDYJD finds itself carefully balancing its duality of ridiculous action and heavy emotion.
Why Don’t You Just Die! is a total blast worth seeing if you need a rush. From the fun characters to the wild story, the film maintains an exhilarating flow all the way to the end. For viewers who appreciate the violence of Tarantino’s work, you’ll get a kick out of this one. Sokolov and his actors have done a solid job with this film, offering us plenty of laughter and bloodshed to enjoy.
The film will be available nationwide on Digital HD and VOD platforms on April 20.
