Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: DEAD LOVER [SXSW Film 2025 - Austin, Texas]
"Dead Lover" [Visions] is a unique addition to the line up this year but it is in a way so far off the beaten path that it plays in concepts of farce, mythology and almost classical mime to the point of almost performance art. Grace Glowicki writes, directs and stars as a Gravedigger looking for love but will go to any length to do it. In many ways it reflects the energy at times of Ryland Tews' "Lake Michigan Monster" but that became transcedent in certain ways. Here the use of the sets and overplaying is its own style of course and the aspect of using mostly women (if not all) to play the men is an inspired choice. The Frankenstein ode of course has its formulaic points but Glowlicki is fully in for the ride. She never misses the beat or the innuendo since this is perhaps the kind of stuff she really digs her teeth into. The ironic romanticism of it despite the extreme nature of the scenario does seemingly want to emote early David Lynch and Peter Jackson.
Glowicki definitely has the blacklight vision aesthetic which might make this an interesting festival favorite (though tricky for commercial prospects). As the story moves forward the Gravedigger herself becomes more unhinged but it is her creation (and the notion that one can't control love) that truly becomes the driving force. The Gravedigger's pursuit of love is an endless search for happiness that she finds, for the most part, she cannot quell. While the humorous anecdotes and parlance of phrase could bring to mind certain Monty Python sketches at points, Glowicki transcends her material in many instances and wanders into some pretty deep territory. This is lurid colors, blood flying and extreme makeup but it all plays into the sense of a redemption. The lead princess (as it were) is washed in various putrid colors of daymarkers and yet they suit her beautifully and tell "her" story in the exact right way. C+
By Tim Wassberg
