See You On the Other Side?

Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)

Director- Goran Dukic

Starring- Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Shea Whigham

Suicide afterlife resident Zia (Fugit) tires of the routine world he "lives" in, and after realizing his girlfriend, Desiree (Leslie Bibb), has arrived into his world, he goes out in search of her in hopes of reuniting in true love. He recruits companion Eugene (Whigham) to come along, and picks up disgruntled afterlifer Mikal (Sossamon), who believes her presence there is a mistake and wants to speak with the "People In Charge".

On their way, they meet a few different types of suicides, and find themselves part of a community run by a mysterious miracle worker named Kneller (Tom Waits). Zia learns that Desiree has fallen in with King (Will Arnett), a cult leader who is promising a huge miracle for his followers, and decides to go to see her. Kneller accompanies him, as his dog is also in King's company, and Kneller wants him back.

I'm going to stop it right about there, because the story keeps taking odd turns, and it's worth more to watch than to hear about. The plot moves along smoothly, and there are several things to try to observe along the way, like all the broken down/discarded objects on the side of the road during their road trip, a gas station that keeps losing their hose to absent-minded drive-offs, as well as the mysterious black hole on the floor of the passenger seat in Eugene's car.

Tom Waits' Kneller is another scene-stealer. His character is charismatic and fun to watch as he tells his stories in classic Waits style. I'm not sure what the Kneller in the written story is like (the movie is based on "Kneller's Happy Campers by Etgar Keret), but now I won't be able to imagine it without Waits' influence. I also love Kneller's rogue ways and his reluctance to follow conventional rules, even after his "cover" has been blown.

The meeting of Zia and Mikal is typical of destined lovers in a love story, but there are so many odd bits and twists in this movie, that one doesn't really notice a love story developing. We're more distracted by the passenger seat-black hole, the different suicide types, the little miracles, the physical inability to smile, etc.

Overall, an excellent movie that I would definitely love to watch again not for the love story, but for the observation of suicide afterlife culture, as well as Kneller's rule-bending.

Rating: 4/5 Bonedaddies.