One of SXSW’s most buzzed-about features this year comes from longtime Saturday Night Live sketch-writer and digital content creator, Jorma Taccone. Taccone joined the SNL ranks in 2005 along with his comedy music group known as “The Lonely Island” which also features Andy Samberg. From there, the writer segued to directing where he helmed spinoff-films such as MacGruber and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Taccone clearly has a knack for humor, an aspect he delivers in spades in this year’s darkest of comedies, Over Your Dead Body.
Dan and Lisa (played by Jason Segel and Samara Weaving) are well beyond an unhappy couple. What once began as a loving relationship has devolved into what seems like an irreparable union filled with bitterness and resentment. Dan, who directed a feature length film once upon a time, where Lisa, an actress herself, is quick to point out that she was never cast in it, has arranged a getaway to their remote cabin. Under the guise of a romantic retreat intended to save their marriage, Dan and Lisa both secretly plan to kill the other. What could possibly go wrong?
Based on the 2021 Norwegian film whose English title translates to The Trip, Over Your Dead Body takes this neat and simple premise and splashes it all over the walls. Adapted by Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney, the story deviates in countless unforeseen directions creating a wild and unpredictable ride. As Over Your Dead Body unfolds, it remains just as committed to gore as it is to humor, perfectly capturing its unhinged intentions. In fact, Jorma Taccone’s remake becomes a bit of a genre bender, or dare I say, “genre creator”, where, by its closing credits, you could classify the movie as “adorable gore horror”. It’s a bold strategy, one that pays off greatly for the strong-stomached, but squeamish moviegoers may want to consider searching elsewhere.
In addition to the film’s unpredictable and uproariously funny screenplay, Taccone elicits exceptional performances from a long list of both established and relatively unknown performers. Segel and Weaving give wildly dedicated turns that are matched beautifully by the film’s dastardly trio of Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, and Keith Jardine. These three supporting actors are diabolical in their roles, dialing up the lunacy to astronomical levels. And while their onscreen absurdity begins to muddy any sense of grounded reality in the film, there’s nothing left for the audience to do besides let go and soar wherever the story takes you. But fear not, this ride into the unconventional is certainly one worth taking.
Over Your Dead Body has taken Austin’s annual festival by storm, and for good reason. The script and characters are maniacal, the acting fully committed, and the death scenes are top notch. Jorma Taccone has crafted a brilliantly entertaining dark comedy that keeps the audience engaged by taking them on an unforgettable ride. And just like I’ve heard time and time again at this year’s SXSW festival, Over Your Dead Body is one film you won’t want to miss.
Grade: 4 stars out of 5