Influencer Adi (Ziad Abaza) is determined to keep his followers engaged and a chance meeting in a bar with Lee (Harry Reid), provides a unique opportunity. Adi is told about a challenge he can do where he’s buried underground for 3 days as a test of his mental strength. Encouraged by best mate Maz (Mimi Shaikh) who agrees to do it with him, Adi decides to go for it. As he prepares for the challenge, which is organised by a group of Sufi Muslim mystics, Adi begins to have second thoughts but before he knows it, he’s buried six-feet under with only a pipe giving him a glimpse to the outside world and finds himself completely alone.
‘Die Before You Die’ isn’t a wholly original idea given that Ryan Reynolds headlined a film with a not-too-dissimilar premise called ‘Buried’ in 2010. While Reynolds’ character may not have willingly agreed to be buried, much of the two films feels similar. It’s obvious to the viewer that Adi’s naïve agreeance to take part in a stupid stunt isn’t the best idea in the world. He’s happy to leave his daughter while he chases fame and followers, which seems far-fetched but to be honest there are plenty of stories out there about how stupid influencers can be.
It definitely helps that Adi is irritating and insufferable. His cocky exterior, which the film strongly hints isn’t at all what he’s like on the inside, is grating and honestly, I was counting down to him being buried underground. The events that lead-up to the eventual burying are rife with red flags but Adi ignores every single one, thinking only of his followers with no regard to his own safety and well-being. Even when he meets the men that Lee, a complete stranger, introduces him to, he still doesn’t think that backing out might be the best idea.
Once Adi is underground, that’s when the film hits a series of issues and the plot grinds to a halt. How do you make an hour’s worth of film interesting when it turns into a one-man show trapped in one location? ‘Die Before You Die’s answer is to have Adi speak to a monkey figure given to him by his daughter, with the monkey answering back in Adi’s voice, in Adi’s head. Whereas ‘Buried’ cashed in on the claustrophobic nature of the situation the lead character was in, ‘Die Before You Die’ never manages to. Despite a few moments of panic, Adi never really seems too flustered that he may have been left for dead.
Ziad Abaza, who plays Adi and co-wrote the screenplay, gives a solid performance. He’s suitably irritating before Adi goes into the hole and he manages to show some range once he’s trapped. The rest of the cast features barely so it’s hard really to single anyone else out. We don’t learn much about Adi’s best friend Maz and Lee is purposely mysterious.
Whether or not Adi has been tricked I won’t reveal but the story resolution left me hugely underwhelmed. Had I been able to get past just how stupid Adi is, I still wouldn’t have been wholly sold on the way the film resolves. As a commentary about the stupidity and narcissim of influencers, ‘Die Before You Die’ hits the nail on the head. As a horror/thriller, it falls way short of the mark, bordering on boring for the the last 60 minutes.
Cast: Ziad Abaza, Mim Shaikh, Harry Reid, Priya Blackburn Director: Dan Pringle Writers: Ziad Abaza & Dan Pringle Certificate: 15 Duration: 104 mins Released by: Bulldog Film Releasing Release date: 4th October 2024 (cinemas), 28th October 2024 (on-demand)
