“Dead Mail” follows a post office employee who investigates the mysterious origins of a blood-stained note that was sent by a captive man.
At the heart of “Dead Mail” is a synthesizer with classical instrumentals. Naturally, this instrument aids in providing creepy and eerie sounds that are integrated into the movie’s score.
Performances and Character Focus
The performances in “Dead Mail” are all top-notch. This is especially true from John Fleck as Trent, Sterling Macer Jr. as Josh and Tomas Boykin as Jasper. These three individuals are followed for the majority of the runtime. Fleck isn’t intimidating physicality-wise, but he brings both wit and awkwardness that makes his character frightening. Macer Jr. has the widest range in his performance, being intelligent, horrified and weak all in one. While Boykin has the least screen time out of the three, he makes his presence felt.
Narrative Structure and Tension
“Dead Mail” has an interesting narrative journey. For the first 20 minutes, it focuses on Jasper. It then shifts back in time to the story of Trent and Josh. Changing the perspective from which the story is told, “Dead Mail” gives the audience a complete picture. This keeps you on your toes throughout the runtime while also setting up a grand finale as all of the pieces clash. This jumping can be alienating at times, but it ultimately comes together.
“Dead Mail” is at its best when following the perspectives of Trent and Josh. When eyes are on any of the other characters, the film begins to fall apart.
Final Act and Thematic Weight
The movie changes its tone in the final act, becoming somewhat of a detective story. This slightly took me out of the film, as it faded away from the more interesting storylines. The detective aspects of the plot aren’t as compelling and feel somewhat forced so that the movie can reach a desired conclusion. In a film that is trying to appear “real,” I would have liked to see a more natural finale.
The flick explores the “mad man” in ways that most others do not. He isn’t necessarily crazed at heart, but “Dead Mail” provides context as to what drove him past the edge. This characterization and the exploration of isolation and friendships make a fairly generic storyline far more entertaining.
“Dead Mail” takes a creative approach to watching someone spiral into madness. It’s a non-linear story that presents a complete image. Despite several shortcomings in the final act, a group of solid performances keep the film afloat.
Rating: 3 out of 5
