Dead Again

I saw this Kenneth Branagh thriller back in the early 1990's, and I remember really liking it. I didn't remember much about it in 2022, but I remember it contained a huge twist that I loved. But I couldn't for the life of me remember what the twist was. So when I saw the movie on Amazon Prime, I had to check it out again and refresh my memory.

The movie is unusual in that it permits the two doomed lovers from the past a happy ending in the present. Now the ending is imperfect to me because we never actually see Grace get her memory back, but I perhaps thought it was a bit refreshing back in the day to have a thriller all the good guys lived through.

But remembering that might have been the reason I was unsurprised that little stuttering Frankie was the killer, and Dr. Madson was him grown up. In fact that was my first theory. Now the reason me remembering the happy ending didn't necessarily ruin that for me is because even if it WAS a happy ending, there was every possibility they could have still done it even if Roman Strauss WERE the killer in the past. So, in fairness to my deductive skills, after 47 years of watching TV and movies, even without that context, there's a large chance I would have correctly guessed it anyways.

I mentioned the major twist I loved. And yeah, it shocked me again, because I HAD actually forgotten it. It was way better than the reveal of the murderer. I like that it turns out Mike is the reincarnation of Margaret instead of Roman, and Grace is actually Roman. I am glad to see the movie again, and enjoy that huge surprise that I had luckily forgotten.

I also love the bit with Baker in the home begging for a cigarette. I'm never touched cigarettes myself, but when Mike says "I just quit," I'm thinking part of that may have to do with me remembering that bit. I didn't remember much of that movie, but the fact that I'd stayed away from cigarettes is probably a testament to how gross that scene is.

I love the bit where Mike accidentally calls Grace "Margaret" as this huge orchestral minor chord plays and she screams. Huge moment played to the hilt. Unfortunately as big as it is, it doesn't actually make sense from a story perspective. Total cheat.

Derek Jacobi stuttering at the end was truly freaky too.

The movie isn't perfect. I have no idea why Branagh give Wayne Knight this weird whistle in his voice as Pete. It's distracting, and makes me absolutely loathe a character from an actor I often like, and that the movie somehow wants me to like too. I also didn't much see the point of casting Robin Williams either in a bit role.

But really, it's a strong film with a hell of a twist. ****1/2.