Why Don’t You Just Die!

Summary

Recently Arrow Video released the film Why Don’t You Just Die! on Blu-ray. The film is an incredibly violent and very funny comedy from Russia. As one might expect, the comedy in the film is very dark at times and in many ways displays Russian peculiarities, but due to the large influence that Western films have had on director Kirill Sokolov the film manages to have more crossover appeal than anyone might suspect from a comedy made in Russia. The film also managed to use two hundred liters of blood over the course of ninety five minutes.

The film begins in a hallway of an apartment complex. A young man named Matvei (Aleksandr Kuznetsove) has arrived at the apartment of the parents of his girlfriend Olya (Evgeniya Kregzhde.) In Matvei’s hand is a hammer. He is incredibly nervous, because he is there to avenge his girlfriend’s honor by bludgeoning her father Andrei (Vitaliy Khaev) to death. Things almost immediately do not go as planned, as the police detective Andrei and Olya’s mother invite Matvei into the apartment. As the two men sit at the table in the living room, Andrei begins to interrogate Matvei. As the two begin to attack each other viciously, all is not as it seems and will be revealed over the course of the evening as flashbacks fill in details about all the crooked dealings of the family.

Why Don’t You Just Die! is easily the most violent film I have watched this year. Don’t kid yourself – the film has some scenes that are incredibly graphic and probably will keep many from enjoying the film. For example – there is a graphic scene of torture that involves a drill that will probably be the point that many reach for a remote to stop the film. Why Don’t You Just Die! is also one of the most off-the-wall and funniest comedies I have seen in a long time. It is definitely one of the best surprises to arrive on home video in 2020.

The young writer and director Kirill Sokolov is obviously a film junkie and he steals from hyper stylized directors like Quentin Tarantino. The violent aspects of the film are all largely played for comedic effect and are reminiscent of Kill Bill at times. It is violence turned slapstick and within a few minutes of the film starting I had a huge grin on my face and eagerly awaited what would happen next. The film mixes those elements with a distinct Russian sensibility and lets the humor go as dark as it pleases. Add onto that a truly strange family dynamic, and the film really comes to life. It’s pretty amazing that the film for most of the duration takes place in one small apartment with a total of five characters. For a 95 minute film, it should feel claustrophobic and like a stage play, but the writing is strong enough to know exactly when to break away to flashbacks. On top of that, the soundtrack has a kinetic and energetic feel that helps to propel each scene. I am happy to say that Kirill Sokolov is definitely going to be one to watch in the future if he can produce more films as exciting as this.

The film is well shot by cinematographer Dmitriy Uyukaev and the digital sheen works well in the wide framed picture. I always appreciate when a film is shot in wide frame in close quarters. It lends a lot more detail to the proceedings and gives more for the eye to take in. The actors in the film all turn in strong performances. Most notable in the film are Aleksandr Kuznetsove as Matvei and Vitaliy Khaev as Andrei. I am curious to see if either can land some films in America after this.

Why Don’t You Just Die! is a really pleasant surprise in a really strange year. Highly recommended.

Video

Presented in 2.39:1 aspect ratio with an MPEG-4 AVC Encoded image, the presentation stays true to the digital film source utilized. Here is what the liner notes mention:

“Why Don’t You Just Die! / Papa, sdokhni is presented in its original 2.35:1 [sic] aspect ratio with 5.1 and 2.0 stereo sound. The High Definition master was provided by Reel Suspects.”

This is a really visually striking film and it looks superb. Like many digitally recorded films, the imagery is very sharp and defined. Cinematographer Dmitriy Uyukaev shoots with a wide angle lens in the small setting and that fills the screen with fun details. With all the blood used in the film, the film is surprisingly colorful. This is a really great looking film and I don’t think it could look much better unless it was on UHD.

Audio

The audio presentation on Why Don’t You Just Die! sounds great. The film features a really energetic DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack that uses the surrounds really well. This movie is full of action and the soundtrack matches that intensity. I thought it sounded great.

Supplements:

• Why Can’t You Just Leave? – film historian Kim Newman Weighs in on the film. 
• Behind the Scenes – this is a pretty decent piece that shows the film in the process of being made.
• Short Films – four short films by Kirill Sokolov are featured:
• Could Be Worse
• The Outcome 
• The Flame 
• Sisyphus is Happy
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Storyboards (BD-ROM)

Overall Scores:

Video – 5/5

Audio – 4.5/5

Supplements – 4/5

Overall – 4.5/5

Why Don’t You Just Die! is a fun and energetic comedy from Russia. It is as funny as it is hyper violent, and I mean very, very, violent. This is definitely a film that I recommended to a friend immediately after I watched it, because it really stands out from other releases I have watched this year. For those that can handle the violent content, this film shows a new and exciting filmmaker named Kirill Sokolov hitting his stride straight out the gate. Arrow Video’s release looks and sounds great. The special features are enjoyable. Highly recommended.