Dead in a Week Or Your Money Back (2018) User Reviews

Life is precious

[markthomassintek · 7/10 · 3 December 2018]

REVIEW - DEAD IN A WEEK (OR YOUR MONEY BACK)

Suicide is a serious subject or so I thought until I saw this British made (very) dark comedy about a young man wanting and failing to take his own life.

I know, a strange film and an even stronger review, but actually this film was surprisingly good.

As I've said some very dark humour and certainly not a subject that will appeal to most but with the twists and turns you actually enjoy the fact that the central character has hired an assassin to kill him in one week or get his money back.

Whilst the subject matter of the film is about suicide actually the film promotes one simple truth......

Life is precious.

Rating 7 out of 10

Superb for what it is

[Henry-klein · 7/10 · 6 March 2019]

A pleasant dark comedy that will surprise you with uniqueness and excellent story telling. The moral of the movie isn't bad either. As long as you don't have high expectations, this will deliver.

Funny dark satire.

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 22 December 2018]

If I have to be honest I didn't expect much of this movie with a title like that, but in all fairness I did enjoy this black satirical comedy. It had much more 'fun' moments then I expected. The thick British accent from some of the actors made some conversations even more hilarious. The cast was surprisingly good as the whole cast brought something special to the story. A story that is easy to watch and that will make you laugh if you have a good sense of humor. The movie will probably not have as much success as a big Hollywood production but it deserves it probably much more.

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 25 August 2021]

A nice dark comedy for the performance of Tom Wilkinson, the make-up of Aneurin Barnard, between a character from univers of Tim Burton and for lovely portrait of. Penny by Marillon Bailey. Fair end, maybe too sweet and too expected , romance, jokes and decent story. Nothing memorable but just nice.

Hilarious black comedy (despite being derivative)

[CaptnCnck · 7/10 · 20 April 2019]

I can't understand all the terrible (external) reviews for this movie. I found it extremely funny, with excellent performances from the entire cast. The first hour seemed stronger than the last 30 minutes, but this is a common problem with films, so it didn't bother me too much.

If you like black comedies, like Harold and Maude, for example, this one is certainly worth a try.

Surprisingly funny

[hxquinn · 7/10 · 11 January 2019]

After failing to commit suicide seven times, "10 if you count cries for help", William (Aneurin Barnard) enlists the help of aging assassin Leslie (Tom Wilkinson) to do it for him. Complications arise when William begins to doubt whether he actually wants to die, and Leslie is adamant to fulfill his contract within the week no matter what. This bizarre summary doesn't sound like it could successfully make an entire 90-minute movie, and yet, surprisingly, it did.

As you would expect, the film is full of dark, dry humour: from William's failed suicide attempts, to choosing the way he wants to die, to casually accepting his fate. Despite this, it never borders onto being offensive. If you've suffered from depression, you will probably sympathise with William and often find yourself thinking "I really shouldn't be laughing at this, but I am". After William, a failed writer, has signed his death contract, he gets offered a meeting with a publisher; everyone can probably relate to this kind of irony, if not to such an extreme extent.

As well as William, the film also follows the life of Leslie, who has to fill in one final quota in order to keep his job or else face retirement. His home life is relatively normal, and the juxtaposition of Leslie's family life to his job as a hitman is amusing to say the least. While his wife is worrying about winning an embroidery competition, Leslie is considering the best way to kill someone.

Leslie's boss, Harvey, is played by Christopher Eccleston, who is almost unrecognisable to those of us who know him from his days in Doctor Who. He nails the gangster-like voice so well that I began questioning if I was actually watching the same actor. The confrontation scenes between him and Leslie have the look of a crime thriller but the dialogue of a comedy, making for an interesting dynamic.

There's also a slight love story aspect when Ellie, interested in turning William's work into a book, comes into his life. Again, this could've gone terribly wrong - not wanting to die anymore because you've fallen in love? So cliché. Yet this isn't the focus of the movie, and it doesn't become overwhelmingly romantic.

Perhaps some people may think the subject matter inappropriate; maybe you have to have suffered from depression to be able to appreciate the irony and humour. The film could have easily gone into cheesy or cringe-worthy territory, but it manages to avoid that and still keep an overall suitably serious tone.

With good performances all round, the film nails the tone: sombre, but still humorous, with a nice amount of action too. Overall, a very British comedy.

Predictable but solid.

[codexniagra · 7/10 · 28 November 2018]

Everything that's going to happen seems very obvious but it's still nice to watch. They could have tried taking some risks with the plot. Eccleston's involvement not much more than a cameo but Wilkinson is just as accomplished an actor and the younger cast do a damn good job of it. It's very English though if you like that then you'll appreciate this. It's a damn sight better than Seat 25 anyway.

Well produced and acted U.K. flick!

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 7/10 · 26 August 2019]

I have to say, this one was surprisingly enjoyable - a fun Sunday night popcorn flick. A few writing and editing issues and the pacing could've been better, but otherwise a decent and refreshing new concept on the hit-man genre that was funny and entertaining. Casting was on point, as was the cinematography and directing. It's a 7/10 from me

It was actually enjoyable ..

[Aktham_Tashtush · 8/10 · 2 December 2018]

On the trailer of the movie on youtube i saw some weird bad comments , so i was a bit hesitant ,, but the movie is not bad at all ,, it was really enjoyable ,, nice genuine plot ,, the comedy and humor were so followable.

Tom Wilkinson did an amazing job and loved seeing Christopher Eccleston as for the Welshman Aneurin Barnard, this is the first time i'm seeing him on the big screen and he did an absolute perfect job presenting that dark comedy and blend it with his original face expressions.

Recommended

Strangely enjoyable

[muamba_eats_toast · 7/10 · 27 February 2020]

This film is very dark and extremely weird in places and certainly not to everyone's taste but I have to say overall I did enjoy it once I got past how weirded out I was by the whole thing and I have to say one of my favourite endings to a film I've seen in a while. Certainly worth a watch if you like something a bit different.

Monumental plagiarism of Aki Kaurismaki's I hired a contract killer

[raulcristian-946-65266 · 1/10 · 23 January 2019]

The good news is that the writer copied one of the best movies ever, I hired a contract killer.

The bad news is that I don't see Kaurismaki credited anywhere here.

I am not an expert in copyright law but if this is not a copyright crime, this is absolutely unethical.

Glad I didn't look at Rotten Tomatoes critic reviews

[marleytosh-34771 · 8/10 · 15 December 2018]

I never write reviews but the "critic" ratings were so off I felt I needed to.

This movie is dark, funny and touching. I want to watch it again to see what I might have missed when I first watched it. Even my husband who doesn't always "get" the dark comedies enjoyed it.

Funny or die

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 29 January 2019]

Something along those lines. You realize fairly early on, what this is about and where this is heading. The characters are really funny and have gravitas to them. It helps having some solid actors portraying them, especially the "Killer"/professopmal.

While there are not many surprises along the way, it still is quite a nice ride. It might be a bit too nice at places, but it is to be expected. This is something you can't hold against the movie, because it stays true to itself and the tone it sets out from the start. And it stays on that, with the same pace and quality until the end.

Seen it all before

[FilmMcCool · 4/10 · 26 November 2018]

One reviewer wrote, it's rare you laugh out loud watching a movie and this movie will change nothing. We have seen it all before. I used to think only Hollywood churned out this type of movie but obviously. it';s not a terrible movie and the actors do a good job in their particular roles, it's just there is nothing new to see here and other productions have done this way better. Nothing better to do on a Sunday night when you have work in the morning, watch this, but to go out to a cinema on a Friday night to watch this, No. Mediocre.

Fantastic black comedy

[natcalgary · 7/10 · 29 November 2018]

Every once in a while I come upon a movie which throws me for a loop in a brilliant way. Dead in a week is that movie. It was way funnier than i expected and the acting and story arc were amazing. Kept me intrigued the whole time, and the twist at the end was another brilliant move.

I highly re ccommend watching this

7.9

Yes, I´ve seen it before too

[toksupoksu · 3 December 2018]

Remake of Kaurismäki´s "I hired a contract killer". How dare he claim the writer credit?

Consequences of Pace

[PhilipGHarris · 6/10 · 23 September 2018]

When William's attempts at suicide fail for the tenth time - including calls for help - he calls on retiring hitman, Leslie, to do the job. Then suddenly finds he has something to live for, and tries to reverse the plan with all the consequences that brings.

You may recognise the fact the word 'hilarious' doesn't appear before the word consequences, and it is this slight humour, throughout the movie, which lets down writer/director,Tom Edmunds, story. The actors being great in their roles, but the pacing more Sunday afternoon, rather than madcap comedy.

This doesn't mean there aren't some brilliantly funny moments in Dead in a Week, it's just they languish in slow delivery by elegantly crafted scenes which seem more fitting of a period drama. The whole affair gaining some momentum when Christopher Eccleston comes into play for a couple of brief scenes.

The slow pace also causes plot points to be massively telegraphed, which means the audience can see what's unfolding minutes before it does. William's blossoming love for Ellie not being an 'if' they will, simply a 'when'. Writing a comedy plot concerning suicide can't be easy, but if you're going to follow that path you possibly need to be slightly less sensitive to the subject matter as well, and play it more for laughs. Dialogue lines pertaining to other classic cult films, like the Princess Bride, stand out far too much for simply that reason and will only be apparent and distracting to a part of the audience.

This is a Sunday afternoon film, both quaint and never fully engaging, but still entertaining enough to keep you there. In the middle of the film I was reminded of In Bruges, and how I really wanted this film to have that one's pace and punch. Something I hope Edmunds develops, as he provides the potential, it just needs a bit more umph!

Good dark comedy

[pravinsaber · 7/10 · 4 December 2018]

This movie is a dark comedy , with little dose of hilarious and sentiment in it. Wilkinson acting is so smooth.

The runtime and the editing is a plus. Background score would have been better.

Excellent!

[ChrisStavroulis · 9/10 · 8 December 2018]

What a great movie!Refreshing and original.Go see it and i am sure you will enjoy it.At last something different from the usual Hollywood stuff.

Dark Comedy

[HerbieStretch · 7/10 · 7 December 2020]

Tepid beginning but gets better. Not one for special effects junkies, a gentle comedy if one with a theme of assassination and suicide can be that. Christopher Eccles shines in support, Freya Major is just lovely and the remaining cast hit the right notes. Even manages to be philosophical without preaching.

Blah

[The_nibs · 4/10 · 7 March 2019]

The film starts off promising but fizzles out. The protagonist is dull and inspiring, his motivations are cliche and I wish they'd have pushed it to a much more comical level, like a caricature of Edgar Allan Poe, instead he comes across as sniveling and boring. His romance with his editor is also boring and painfully predictable. The Hitman had great character development, but even his scenes were something of a snore because the pacing is just too slow. This is a film that feels like it should be high energy, fast paced and full of tension, but it lags and the laughs are few and far between.

Witty, Mature, and yet Incredibly Heartfelt

[thebootnoot · 8/10 · 21 December 2019]

It's not often that a film really manages to keep a balance in tone, but boy, this one delivered. The humour really hinges on the ridiculous premise: that one can hire an assassin 'outsource suicide'. It's really quite rare that a movie will tackle such a matter with nuance and care, especially in a comedy, but it was handled expertly and extremely maturely. As someone who has struggled with suicidal thoughts, it was refreshing to be able to see just how silly the notion of suicide really is, captured in witty dialogue and interesting visuals. I have seen many reviews complaining that it is slow and boring, and that there really isn't much that is new in this film, but I do disagree. The way the characters treat the reality of the world and death is very similar to 'The End of the F***ing World'; it doesn't underestimate the maturity of the audience, instead choosing to baldly and boldly present to us a case that ultimately utterly convinces me the worthiness of life.

Really funny actually! Surprisingly good!

[kwenchow · 7/10 · 30 April 2019]

The movie start with a young man trying to jump from a bridge and an old man offer to help him suicide! After he signed a contract with the old man and a female find him to publish his book he change his mind! Because he fall in love with her! Typical romance movie gag! But the director execute in a decent way! The dialogue is funny as well! The action also quite laughable! Not bored at all! At the end, the main actor save a boy at the road and hit by a vehicle! What a noble man! Really hope he didn't die! Another recommended movie!

Grim

[ferdinand1932 · 1/10 · 1 December 2018]

This film is classified as an Action Comedy Drama. None of those categories applies here. There are mortician's slabs with more Comedy Action Drama than is present here.

It is an amateurishly written, forgettable film with dreary hackneyed sketches which were always better done in the original. A refund is due to anyone who gave it some time.

While the premise of the film may offend now, it could have been funny in the tradition of black humor, if a Spike Milligan had developed it, but this is anemic and worst of all, dull. It has no verve nor spark at all. It is pointless.

It's curious that it was produced; but somehow this was made and without a scintilla of invention or value. There are many better choices to make.