Running Time: 88 Minutes
Starring: Annabella Rich, Chris Mills, Johnny Vivash, Melinda Rich, Nicholas Vince, Sidney Kean, Marta Svetek
Over the years, Annabella Rich has appeared in many films which have premiered at FrightFest, including Rumpelstiltskin, and the immaculately titled Powertool Cheerleaders vs the Boyband of the Screeching Dead. After devoting her time in-front of the camera for independent British horror, Rich moves into the directors chair for her debut, The Death of Us, while also occupying the lead role.
Viewers are introduced to the Harpers - Casey (Annabella Rich), a recognisable artist turned mother, and Danny (Chris Mills), a renowned sci-fi author. The couple are shown in a joyous moment, with Danny's books soon to be adapted into a TV series. From their little interactions, it's easy to become invested in this pairing, as we see how they are each other's biggest champions. That peace is shattered upon returning home, where a home invasion has resulted in the deaths of the couple's two-year-old son, Tommy, and babysitter Jess, while also leaving Casey with stab wounds.
Eight-months-later, and the happiness is a distant memory for the couple. One of the home invaders is in custody, while the other remains at large. Lost in grief, Casey and Danny seek refuge in the countryside while struggling with what remains of their lives. However, a shadowed entity lurks behind Casey, twisting her reality into a waking nightmare.
Through their script and their performances, Annabella Rich and Chris Mills effectively bring alive this couple who keep punishing themselves. The physical and emotional scars linger as they grapple with survivors guilt, unsure of how to live in the wake of every parent's nightmare becoming their reality. You can feel that Danny wants to help Casey by giving her the space that she needs, but finds himself lost amidst the overwhelming pressure of trying to hold everything together. His attempts to support his wife cannot quell how he blames himself for the tragedy, and tries finding help by attending a support group. Meanwhile, Casey is offered to speak to a therapist about what she is feeling, but she is doubtful that it would be helpful to her.
The pair are trying to find their own ways through this grief, although matters are not helped by a media circus where YouTubers offer distasteful theories about the couple. Attempts to manage their grief sees the pair going through "What if?" scenarios, and using screaming as an outlet. It all leads to the strongest sequence, as an emotionally revealing moment has the couple bare all to each-other. Mills and Rich give phenomenal performances as the pair, revealing innermost fears and feelings, and giving voice to things they may not be able to take back. Close-ups on their faces capture the emotional devastation that is being felt as the duo bare all, bringing alive an unforgettable moment within the story.
Unfolding amidst this internal horror is a haunting, as Casey is hurt by a creature that may be a manifestation of her grief. Following the success of The Babadook, the past decade has seen a rise in explorations of grief through the horror genre. What is now well-trodden ground has left films needing to try harder to stand apart, and that is something which Annabella Rich's feature struggles to do. While the horror is meant to be an extension of the grief drama, the two aspects feel largely separate from each-other, leaving the horror feeling like an afterthought to the stronger elements. This leaves Nicholas Vince's expository role to takes viewers into a third-act which relies on a vital message to be missed, peppered with generic exclamations to fill-in the space, before reaching a cathartic close. Yet, any satisfaction that arrives is momentary, as it cannot take away the pain which remains. It is all part of The Death of Us, a debut which shows the promise of a first-time filmmaker.
The Death of Us made its World Premiere at FrightFest 2026
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