Edinburgh Film Festival: Dead in a Week

I've said before (I think) that I'm a sucker for a hitman story. So when I see Aneurin Barnard is in a new film AND it has Tom Wilkinson playing said hitman, I'm going to make sure I see it.

Suicidal writer William had tried to end his life numerous times but can't catch a break. He meets hitman Leslie on a bridge one night who offers to do the deed for him. As Leslie is trying to fill his quota and struggling to do so, he has taken to assisting suicides instead of 'proper' contracts, to the disapproval of his boss. William has a week window where Leslie will try to kill him in the cheapest possible way, bullet to the head. But in that same week, William has interest in his book about his failed suicide attempts from a publisher and asks to hold of the deal, but Leslie is a desperate man and a contract is a contract to him. 

A comedy about a hitman who is getting to old for his job he loves and suicidal writer who writes about his failed attempts is an odd sell, but for the better part, it works. The film has a very British feel about it and has jokes such as the Europeans are taking over the hitman market and the delusional heroic death where everyone claps after William saves a child in a way seems like British humour to me.

The film has a simple story with complicated characters that flesh out the plot, not going over the top in any direction which, with a subject, let alone a comedy haevily featuring suicide, is needed. Heartfelt moments are well balanced with comedic ones. Wilkinson's very matter of fact and annoyance when he accidentally kills the wrong person going after William is perfect, as well as his wife Penny played by Marion Bailey, presenting with a scrap book of all his 'best hits', is nicely placed in the middle of the quiet chaos. 

With a great cast of characters and actors, a hitman comedy about suicide is an unexpected bright light amongst the gritty depressing British film landscape.