Die My Love Movie Review
Lynne Ramsey’s filmography shows that she is a director who is not afraid to explore uncomfortable themes, but in a uniquely stylised way that evokes an experiential feeling that haunts and confronts, rather than utilising more traditional filmmaking and story telling methods. This is fully realised in her new film, Die, My Love, a haunting and visceral depiction of a woman’s descent into psychological distress as she searches for meaning and purpose in her life.
Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and Jackson (Robert Pattinson), a young and in love couple, move to Jackson’s isolated, rural childhood home in Montana following the death of his father. The dilapidated house shocks Grace initially, being a far cry from their previous life in New York, but her fiery, physical love for Jackson and the hopes that she will be able to write a new novel without distraction, brings more hope than horror in this adjustment.
Soon after their move, Grace and Jackson become parents, bringing new challenges to this emerging chapter of their relationship and lives. However, with Jackson often working long hours and growing more distant emotionally, Grace is left alone and isolated in this unknown environment with a screaming child, barking dog, and the juxtaposing silence of her surroundings, leading to unpredictable and unsettling results.
Ramsey has created a sensory overload on screen to really put audiences inside the mind of Grace. The claustrophobia of the boxed 1.33:1 aspect ratio, a booming soundtrack of ear-blasting rock songs, vibrant visuals, sudden and shocking violence, hallucinogenic visions, and luminescent night scenes all create this unnerving sensation where what is real and what isn’t is up for interpretation, but all works in creating a direct throughline into Grace’s emotional downfall.
Then there is Lawrence’s powerhouse, animalistic performance as Grace. Releasing all inhibitions and fully committing to the intense physicality that manifests itself as a key indicator of Grace’s experience, it’s impossible to not be fully engrossed in the unpredictability of what Lawrence will do next. Whether it’s crawling through the reeds like a predatory animal, while holding a knife for added tension, or the sexually charged manifestation of her desires to be more connected with her partner, Lawrence’s performance showcases an outstanding understanding of Grace’s mental state, and creates a truly engaging experience for audiences to either observe, or even more powerfully, connect with.
There is a sense of intentional and conflicting infuriation and understanding that comes through Jackson, who as the film goes on will do many things that fuel Grace’s downfall, but also lead to justified reactions that cause uncomfortable reflection, arising questions that audiences may not have the answers too, but Ramsey makes you sit in the unknowingness of it all. The fiery, antagonistic chemistry between Lawrence and Pattinson is outstanding, and unsurprisingly leads to an emotional and physical connection between the two actors that leaps off of the screen.
Die, My Love is not an easy movie to recommend. It’s a deliberately slow paced, stylistically psychedelic experience that is truly tense and uncomfortable for its 2 hour runtime. It’s not an enjoyable experience (despite the odd dash of dark comedy that is sporadically injected throughout), but that is the point. It’s a brutally honest depiction of someone’s psychological downfall. And it works because of the complete dedication of the lead performances and the engaging direction working in tandem to create such a visceral experience.
Die, My Love is in Australian cinemas November 6
