EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE (2023)

New On Demand from Saban Films!
Directed/Written by Craig Tuohy.
Check out the trailer here!!

Wealthy divorced dad Daniel (played by Brad Moore) prepares for a visit from his daughter Imogen (played by Gledisa Arthur) to celebrate her birthday. Once she arrives, though, a pair of masked invaders calling each other Comedy (played by Jaime Winstone, daughter of Ray) and Tragedy (played by Chiara D’Anna) burst in and hold the father and daughter at gunpoint. Through the course of the night, the twisted motivations of the two invaders are revealed, uncovering dark secrets Daniel has been keeping to himself for years.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE is a dark and brutal home invasion film that is not going to be for many. Hell, I don’t know if it is for me. The film goes to some very dank depths involving humiliation, sexual assault, murder, and other heinous acts and does so with an unblinking eye, as if the cameraman himself is held at gunpoint and forcing the audience to watch. I’ll admit, I think that this film went a little too far and showed a little too much. The late in the game reveals make you understand why the two invaders are putting Daniel through all of this, but even then, it feels over the top and something beyond decent taste. Not that I’m some prim and proper couch-fainter, but I was pushed to the point of turning this one off because the main message the film is trying to convey is violence. Plain and simple. Sure there’s a reason provided for it, but it doesn’t make it any more watchable.

What kept me watching? Well, the acting is pretty top notch all around. Brad Moore is great as the very flawed and maybe villainous father. He seems like a good enough dad, but has that same air of indecency that Tony Soprano did, like in order to get to the place he is now, he did some very awful things. I haven’t seen Moore in anything, but I’ll be looking forward to seeing him in future films as he is an intimidating actor, while still able to show his softer side. I also liked the performance of Jaime Winstone as Comedy, one of the invaders who demasks early on. There is a rage in her that encompasses her character. And as hard as Winstone and Moore are, Chiara D’Anna tragic turn as…what else? Tragedy. Her performance is gripping and heart wrenching, as is the destruction of innocence that Gledisa Arthur represents as Daniel’s daughter Imogen. All around, this is a strongly acted film, despite how dark and depraved it becomes.

But the real thing that I loved the most about EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE is the soundtrack. The film immediately get my respect for using Faith No More’s “Take This Bottle,” a song about a man looking back at his life and all of the destruction he’s caused and becoming ready for what comes next. That song gives me chills every time I hear it and it was wonderful seeing it appear in this movie. I also loved the titular “Everybody’s Going To Die” by the Church of the Cosmic Skull, a song played in the opener and closer, representing the good and bad about living and dying. At the very least, EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE gave me a new song for my depressing and morbid playlist.

If you can handle its brutality, EVERYONE IS GOING TO DIE is a powerful watch. I loved the placement and choice of songs and the strong performance elevates it above home invasion slash torture porn, but only by a skosh.