Review: What Death Leaves Behind
I have the pleasure to get to view advanced movie premiers on occasion and in the Philadelphia area, this is the heart of indie spirit of groundbreaking small movies; Rocky-M Night-Jesus Son.
''What Death Leaves Behind" presents a blue collar working man with a health problem, suffering kidney disease and in need of a transplant to continue to support his family. Jake Warren (newcomer Khalil McMillan is our Everyman), working at his Uncle Henry's HVAC company, and going in for dialysis treatments hoping to find a donor soon. A quiet man with some family issues, finally is blessed with luck. The operation is a success but... well, he's changing. Bad dreams, ugly thoughts, and an obsession with who the donor could be. This leads Jake down a dark path, with questions about a series of local killings in Chester, PA.
The psychological thriller is based on real life "tissue memory" donor recipients, and the film goes deep into the idea of identity loss. The outcome of the story is jarring and heartbreaking in a smart thriller.
The casting is key in this very stark thriller, no flashy big names but solid actors in defined roles. McMillan is great as our lead, an imposing strong and ultimately scary dude. Vincent Young as his co-worker defined as a logical caring friend, and Philly iconic actor Christopher Mann as Henry, a father figure. Standout performance by Mann in the final act is a revelation to his outstanding acting ability.
Chad Morton story and collaborative script by producer Rachael Ofori, and directors Scott A. Hamilton and Nico Giampietro bring the goods. The film is unpredictable, and reminiscent of M. Night Shyamalan's best early efforts. Low budget but solid indie you will not forget. Bravo!
Review of What Death Leaves Behind
