Making a film with a big twist is very difficult and all the elements of the story that leads to it must be set up so the audience does not see it coming. While the movie What Death Leaves Behind does a pretty good job at the beginning of the film, the script gets to revealing and predictable to the point of failure to deceive.
Jake has been working at his Uncle Henry’s air conditioning company for many years. During that time he was diagnosed with kidney problems that escalated. It’s now at the point that he has to go to dialysis on a regular basis until his number comes up for a transplant. When his turn comes unexpectedly, Jake gets a new kidney and he’s on the road to a longer life.
However, it seems Jake is starting to see visions that show a man viscously beating a woman. With the TV News station following a number of murders within the past month, Jake has the feeling that the man in his dreams may be the one committing the serial crimes.
The film goes on from there and we find Jake having problems with his family, boss and friends. Director and co-writer of the film Scott Hamilton makes this script his first for the big screen. He delivers a message in the beginning of the film that the story is non-linear: a story not involving or arranged in a straight line. Basically the movie does not unfold from beginning to end, but in this case opens with a scene that takes place later on in the movie. He even goes as far as changing up some of the scenes in the middle in order to accommodate his final surprise.
Because he’s actually new as a filmmaker, things really don’t go very well for him. Whether the premise of receiving an organ transplant can cause the donners cells to affect the new host’s memory is a good ploy, seems farfetched. However, Google says: The theory of cellular memories states that memories, as well as personality traits, are not only stored in the brain but may also be stored in the organs such as the heart. Well, sounds like a good idea to build a movie around, except I could not find anywhere that the cells being transferred could affect the memory or actions of the new host of that organ.
Additionally in the film they show a book called “The Heart’s Desire” by Diane McConnell. I could find no one in the cast named Diane McConnell or a character in the cast named Diane McConnell. So I looked up the book on Google and Amazon and could not find a copy of it or any book written by Diane McConnell. So I went one step further and checked in the Library of Congress, and nope not there either. I do know the this is a work of fiction, but realism is certainly important to this film to bring about a good outcome.
What Death Leaves Behind has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains violence, language, gore and some brutality.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Not the best mystery thriller, but a pretty good try. (2 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Khalil McMillan, Christopher Mann, Vincent Young, Shaira Barton, Erin O’Brien, Johnny Alonso
Directed and co-written by: Scott Hamilton
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, contains violence, language
Running Time: 1 hr. 27 min.
Opening Date: October 11, 2019
Distributed by: Artist Rights Distribution
Released in: Select Theaters
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
