A man who disposes of bodies for gangsters in a nearby city faces a difficult decision when one of the "corpses" turns out to still be alive.
If my 2019 mission (reviewing a film every day of the year) has taught me anything, it's about the surprising quality of dramas. Despite this looking like a horror film (there is a supernatural element to it), the majority of the film is posed as a dramatic thriller, and it's an incredibly engaging one at that. I'll Take Your Dead is a Canadian film, directed by Chad Archibald, and is a great example of a low budget film with high-value production.
The premise is very simple, and it does not deviate from that storyline. In many ways, there are many similarities to Logan, in terms of the goals and conflicts within the story. With such a minimalistic plot, Jayme Laforest's screenplay is full of character-defining moments, backstory and motivations, with a healthy sprinkling of mysteries to maintain the intrigue; there is an amazing level of depth for an 83-minute dramatic horror.
The script is bolstered by a top-notch cast. Aidan Devine and Ava Preston are the Father and Daughter combo, with Jess Salgueiro playing the part of the "unexpectedly alive" character, and they all give impressive and perfectly relatable performances. The girl with no mother figure, the father forced into servitude who is thrown an ethical curveball, the woman that doesn't know who she can trust, they are all arcs that pique the curiosity, and a put forward a scenario that the audience can empathise with. Particularly impressive with a dialogue-heavy script due to the majority of the film occurring in a single location.
Despite limitations to the setting, Jeff Maher does a fascinating job on the cinematography. Crisp and clear shots of varying depth, with great use of shadow, gorgeous colour displays in scenic shots, and well-thought-out production design, there are a lot of details that don't necessarily stand out enough to take you out of the story, but it builds a strong and deep connection that grips you. The score further accentuates the story in a manner that, again, doesn't try to steal the spotlight, but creates a more visceral experience.
The story doesn't require too much in the way of special effects, and (with one exception) it is done competently and tastefully. That one exception doesn't quite make sense narratively but is one of only two aspects of the film that felt below standard.
I had no expectations before viewing this film, but it is strong and well-executed, with some great character development that keeps you hooked.