An Independent Spooky Season Film That Will Keep You on Your Toes

Read Time:2 Minute, 18 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
After She Died
–

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director(s): Jack Dignan
Writer(s): Jack Dignan
Cast: Liliana De La Rosa, Vanessa Madrid, Paul Tabot, Adam Golledge
Where To Watch: On-demand September 30

RAVING REVIEW: A slow burn (until it isn’t) horror film that will leave you with the most uneasy feeling of the year. In addition to one of the most striking color palettes I can remember seeing in a film.

There’s so much to be said about this low/no-budget movie that feels like it could be placed along with any significant theatrical release. If I hadn’t read director Jack Dignan’s statement, I would’ve never guessed this was a low-budget film. I would say that’s largely thanks to his direction, the incredible cast, and all of the “70 person” team behind this.

Shot in Sydney, Australia, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cast and crew were put on hold just ten days into an 18-day shoot. Dignan has quite an impressive filmography, working as a producer, director, visual effects, writer, and more already in his relatively short career.

Liliana De La Rosa gave a performance I won’t soon forget, the link that held this entire film together. The whole cast was remarkable, but something about her performance pulled it all together. This was her first feature role, and she more than made the best of the opportunity. If I didn’t know better, I would assume she was a veteran of the industry.

The only real knock I can find is that I wish there were more to this incredible story; while there are twists galore, the storyline is pretty straightforward. I would have liked to know more about what connected all of these dots.

From a visual perspective, this was gorgeous; I suggest going to IMDb (after you’ve watched the movie) and clicking on the photo gallery. It gives a fantastic idea of the almost mosaic-like extremes used throughout the film. Each scene is specifically given its look and feel through not only the performances but the incredible color palette used. The use of stunning practical effects helps to amplify these scenes as they engulf the viewer in this reality.

For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews

Follow me on Instagram, Letterboxd, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.