“I Know Exactly How You Die” follows writer Rian Burman, whose slasher-fiction novel manifests in real life — meaning he has to finish the story without getting his protagonist murdered by a sadistic stalker.
Horror Story Comes to Life
There is a great sense of surrealism in the early stages of “I Know Exactly How You Die.” This is largely because of its focus on character development. A down-on-his-luck writer. A woman in hiding from a serial killer. These individuals don’t seem like they’d blend together, but they somehow do here.
It’s a classic “story coming to life” tale, but the film never verges into the fantastical. Instead, it remains ground-level and gritty. Blending drama, romance and slasher elements together, it becomes a hybrid viewing experience. Mike Corey’s script utilizes many different inspirations to give this story an edge.
“First and foremost, it’s a horror comedy,” said actor and executive producer Rushabh Patel. “Think ‘Stranger Than Fiction’ meets ‘Scream.’ There are classic rom-com tropes we also played with, but the movie is a love letter to classic horror films while certainly standing on its own in terms of originality.”
Bringing a Single Location to Life
Director of photography Michael Kohlbrenner adds flair to the imagery as well. Especially in dimly lit situations, the camera manages to capture tension and anxiety around every corner. Various lighting sources, distorted visuals and even quiet stillness work in the movie’s favor.
Taking place primarily in one location, “I Know Exactly How You Die” could have easily looked dull. Instead, it finds ways to inject creativity into minimalistic settings.
The special effects and visual effects teams play a big part in this. While the quantity is low, the quality of the violence within the film is fairly high. Characters are killed in simple ways in “I Know Exactly How You Die.” That doesn’t mean it’s not effective. There are splatters of blood, deceased bodies and forceful blows that sell the violence when it occurs. When CGI is mixed in, these scenes of carnage can become slightly distracting. But, luckily, the film typically doesn’t overdo it.
Arindam Jurakkan’s score is subtle but effective. There are bass-heavy insertions alongside more selective sounds that amplify key moments.
Performances that Elevate the Shortcomings
Patel also stars in the movie. It’s oftentimes a tame performance, but he delivers bursts of intensity. He is able to sell the “quiet writer” persona quite effectively, which makes his emotional outbursts all the more effective when they do occur. Stephanie Gomes Hogan (Katie) is the co-lead, bringing a more direct presence that balances well against Patel’s unpredictability. Even with a short 88-minute runtime, Patel and Hogan don’t fully begin to share the screen until the midway point.
It was a challenging role for Hogan, but a rewarding one at that.
“You learn how to get in it, stay in it and how to leave it,” she said. “But what I took personally from the character of Katie is if no one is going to help you, you have to do it yourself. And that’s pretty powerful.”
Director Alexandra Spieth ties all of the film’s ideas together — exploring addiction, trauma, independence and obsession in the process. While serious examination of themes isn’t the primary objective, the topics are present.
“I Know Exactly How You Die” can drag, especially in its early stages. Viewers will likely be eager for the needle to drop, and it’s a fairly long waiting game. When all of the pieces do come into place, the film feels like it’s rushing to the finish line. Because of this, the final confrontation doesn’t last as long as it needs to. The film is missing a final bite that would have taken it to the next level.
Because it’s a genre mashup, the tones can sometimes clash. The comedy, specifically, is out of place at times. It’s a movie that can feel inherently “safe,” but when it occasionally steps outside of the box, those extremes become outliers even more.
Even with a simplistic narrative, “I Know Exactly How You Die” still has problems with speaking directly to the audience. Unnecessary lore or extended bouts of dialogue tend to over-explain a plot that doesn’t really require any extra clarification.
“I Know Exactly How You Die” takes inspiration from horror classics while also adding its own twist to the genre. As a writer, this could certainly land in my nightmares.
Rating: 3 out of 5
