- Release year: 2025
- Director: Boyd Anderson and J. Markus Anderson.
- Producers: Shane P. Allen, Boyd Anderson, J. Markus Anderson, and Chris Pegut.
- Screenplay by: Boyd Anderson and J. Markus Anderson.
- Cinematography by: Dan Watt.
- Music by: Troy Higgins.
Synopsis: a couple helps spirits go to the afterlife through a series of doors that show up in their home.
Shotgun Commentary: one of the most wholesome explorations of grief ever made.
J. Markus Anderson, 2025).
Review
If You Should Leave Before Me is a dramatic comedy with supernatural elements that explores the idea of grief through a unique tale. In it, a charming couple navigates the idea of death and the intricacies of the afterlife with humour and, above all, a lot of love.
Let the right one… out?
The feature follows Mark (Shane P. Allen) and Joshua (John Wilcox), a married couple who live in a really bizarre house. You first learn about their particularities around the act of drinking coffee in the mornings, which is strange enough, but soon, that quirky introduction will reveal itself as the most normal aspect of their lives. A fact that you begin to suspect when the first random door reveals itself.
Each door leads to a soul that has refused to leave its reality and move on. The couple cross the door, talk to the soul, and usually manage to get them to cross over into the great beyond. Simultaneously, they also battle with a monster or demon that knocks twice on their door before rattling the whole house demanding entrance. And before you say anything, yes, the beginning is incredibly chaotic, and you will feel like you’re not understanding half of it. Not worry! Stick to it, trust the process, everything will be revealed in due time.
A brand-new perspective
At the end of the day, this is a story about love, loss, and, overall, the process of moving on. Everyone has experienced loss in their lives, and you can’t really do anything about it. Contrary to what Disney has been feeding us since its origins, no amount of true love can bring a person back from the dead. But, what happens when you find yourself in that position? When you are fully confronted with the loss of someone you love with all your heart and all you can feel is pain and helplessness? Well, this is the particular moment that is explored throughout this film.
J. Markus Anderson, 2025).
Granted, this could very well produce a depressing story. In fact, it’s got all the tickets to win that particular lottery, but against all odds, it actually provides you with one of the most wholesome and wacky comedies of the year. Nazis, suicides, corpse-fighting and a catfish urn are only some of the elements that make this story. So if you happen to love insane narratives, hold your socks and grab your Crocs. It’s gonna get messy.
Looks, looks, looks
The visual aspects of the film are worth a mention too, as the craftsmanship and imagination behind them is outstanding. From the very beginning, every single shot screams talent, order, and style. Not to mention, the production design is absolutely flawless. The perfectly crafted homely house slowly becomes a dumpster of feelings and destruction that reflects the protagonists’ mental and emotional states like a mirror.
Additionally, each of the souls they encounter lives in its own space on the other side of the doors that show up in their home. Every space represents, not only the place where they died, but a little about their personality and the kinks of their story. Last but not least, each atmosphere and change of mood is aided by a particular light configuration that sets the scene and discreetly highlights all the relevant details, like a conductor for the audience’s eyes.
J. Markus Anderson, 2025).
All in all, If You Should Leave Before Me is a film that works in every way. The text is perfect, the performances are on-point, and the atmosphere absorbs you into this madcap universe so efficiently that you’ll never want to leave. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys great indie cinema.
If You Should Leave Before Me is part of the Raindance Film Festival 2025 programme, taking place in London now. Find all the info here!
Advice to take from this movie:
- Losing those you love is as hard as it is inevitable.
- Letting go is as important as remembering.
- Never keep your wedding cake in a freezer for years. Just take a pic and eat it.
What’s your take? Have you watched If You Should Leave Before Me? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀