Movie Reviews

Movie Review: “Tuesday” Gives A Unique Spin On Death

A mother and her teenage daughter must confront Death when it arrives in the form of an astonishing talking bird.

Death has been personified in many ways throughout cinema history. Perhaps one of the most famous depictions of Death personified is Bengt Ekerot’s chess-playing portrayal in “The Seventh Seal.” Some movies have presented Death as a joke (“Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey”), a man you might pass on the street (“Meet Joe Black”), or even an unseen force out to reclaim the lives of those who’ve cheated it (“Final Destination”). Writer/director Daina Oniunas–Pusić chooses a bird as Death in her feature film debut.

The film opens in what appears to be the cosmos before focusing on Earth and zooming out from the eye of Death itself. However, Death, voiced by Arinzé Kene, is not any old bird. This dirty red bird with a hooked beak is all-hearing and able to change size—capable of growing either immensely large or microscopic as it travels the world, taking souls.

Oniunas–Pusić’s film focuses on single mother Zora (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her terminally ill daughter, Tuesday (Lola Petticrew). Zora spends her days away from home struggling to deal with the situation, leaving her daughter in the care of her nurse, Billie (Leah Harvey). Death arrives as Tuesday sits in their backyard, waiting for Billie to prepare her bath. Not frightened by Death, Tuesday tells it a joke, thereby buying herself more time and initiating a series of events with unforeseen consequences.

Without getting too much into plot specifics, “Tuesday” is a weird movie. It’s been a few hours since I’ve finished viewing it, and I still don’t know what to make of it. It’s an inventive take on the ‘Death comes for you’ story angle, and there’s more that works about it than doesn’t. Unfortunately, the moments that don’t work particularly well drag the movie down. A handful of spots pull you out of the moment, spoiling the spell Oniunas–Pusić has created over the audience.

Aside from that, the movie is pretty good. The pacing is mostly steady, and the camerawork, photography, and effects are good. The bird is a CG creation that blends well with the environment. There’s also some fun effects work that comes into play in the film’s second half. Plus, Oniunas–Pusić has a knack for pulling fine performances from her actresses. Both Louis-Dreyfus and Petticrew give fantastic performances in this movie, each raw and heartbreaking. I imagine many viewers will need a box of Kleenex to make it through this film.

Altogether, “Tuesday” is strange but unique. It should hold your interest for the duration of the film. The subject matter in this movie is thematically heavy. Those looking for some light viewing will probably want to choose another film.

In Theaters Friday, June 14th

 

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