Comedies are always subjective. Sometimes we discover that the films we’re used to are not as good as we thought as we get exposed to so many different cultures bringing their own unique looks and flare to films. Pratul Gaikwad’s first feature, Dead Dead Full Dead, is a fantastic example to support the claim that international comedies are typically better than the North American output. What starts off as an absurdist comedy transcends into a murder mystery with a supernatural whodunnit element and delivers tenfold on the comedy and absurdity, leaving the audience in a gut-punch of trying to catch their breath from laughing at how obscenely insane this truly becomes.
L-R: Swastika Mukherjee as Era, Sachin Vidrohi as Chatu, Flora Jacob as Mrs. Bachhan, Ashwin Mushran as Rahul, Abhijeet Chavan as Mr. Patil, Monica Chaudhary as Zubi and Yug Italiya as Balram in DEAD DEAD FULL DEAD. Photo courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival.
The movie focuses on two police officers, Balraam and Zubeida, aka Zubi, (Yug Italiya and Monica Chaudhary, respectively), as they’re doing routine traffic stops. What separates them from most police officers, other than being a couple, is their absolute inability to be good at their job; they’re rather a mess. While being a mess isn’t a bad thing, it truly is bewildering how they became police officers. While the absurdity starts with a pet goat getting accidentally thrown into the road and becoming a stuffed animal, it kicks off the journey of this truly hilarious series of events. Balraam and Zubi get called to investigate reports of a murder (why these two get assigned to the case when they’re not homicide is beyond me, but anything for a laugh). Era (Swastika Mukherjee) is the victim in question, and, as reported by her neighbor Mrs. Bachhan (Flora Jacob), her husband Rahul (Ashvin Mushran) is the one responsible for her death. The issue is, our two cops have the brain capacity of Mr. Bean and Inspector Clouseau mashed into one. However, Era is an influencer who heavily leans into astrology. She returns from the dead and the story slow-turns into a mystery not of who killed her, but more of who didn’t. Truly a case of absolute chaos and madness that gets funnier as time progresses and creates more zaniness than expected.
Flora Jacob as Mrs. Bachhan in DEAD DEAD FULL DEAD. Photo courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival.
Dead Dead Full Dead works because of the creativity of Pratul Gaikwad, who both wrote and directed the feature. Being able to craft a story that is so over the top and truly unthinkable is one thing, but managing to execute that story in a way that allows it to shine and not get lost in the world of chaos that is created is a feat of itself. Pulling double duty between writing and directing your first feature and creating something original and hilarious with excellent delivery is truly something magical in and of itself. Comedies are so objective, but a redefined astral projected (in a sense) whodunnit mystery with Clouseau-learned police officers is a recipe for something truly enjoyable.
Dead Dead Full Dead manages to shine and shock its audience with how inventive and hilarious it is. Aside from the great direction and script, the cast shines throughout. However, it is both Yug Italiya and Monica Chaudhary who steal the show as they’re absolutely over-the-top and hilarious. Both wanting to focus on their jobs, their relationship, and to prove they’re better than expected works tenfold and creates a world for the audience to fully fall into. Moreover though, Swastika Mukherjee seamlessly steals every scene she is present in by perfectly capturing the influencer mindset and the horoscope-focused astrology influencers, bringing a whole new level and depth to the chaotic comedy that unfolds.
L-R: Yug Italiya as Balram and Swastika Mukherjee as Era in DEAD DEAD FULL DEAD. Photo courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival.
Dead Dead Full Dead being the first feature from Pratul Gaikwad proves that he will be a name to look out for moving forward, creating outlandish comedies that will have audiences holding themselves together from laughing too hard. The cast bring their A-game and create the chaotic environment that allows the movie to shine and truly become an outlandish comedy for the ages with a supernatural twist.
Screening during Fantasia International Film Festival 2024.
For more information, head to the official Fantasia International Film Festival 2024 Dead Dead Full Dead webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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