'Wristcutters: A Love Story' review

Title aside, this look at the afterlife is worth a look

By Angie Vo
Published: October 30th, 2006 | 10:23am

With a name like Wristcutters: A Love Story, one might expect "bizarre" characters with acute emotional baggage spelled out in hushed, dragged out conversations. In other words, a groan-worthy film. Though Wristcutters can't escape from some of these stereotypes, it works hard to covey an original story that begins with someone's end.

The movie, written and directed by Guran Dukic and based on Kneller's Happy Campers by Etgar Keret, opens with Zia (Patrick Fugit) "offing" himself by slashing his wrists because his girlfriend, Desiree (Leslie Bibb) leaves him. Zia then finds out that his afterlife, in a place just for suicide victims, is just a dreary version of the world he left. There, he meets Russian musician Eugene (Shea Whigham), and the two embark on a road trip to find Desiree, who killed herself because Zia did.

Along the way, the pair pick up Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon) and all figure out a better way to live in a life after death. Excellent supporting parts by Tom Waits and Arrested Development's Will Arnett help round out this fairly comedic drama. Forgo your misgivings from the title and watch the movie when it comes to a festival or indie film house near you.