Demet and Okan, a married couple, feel the absence of the spark in their relationship. Their lifestyle choices increase their exposure to risk. Okan, seeking a change of fortune, buys a lottery ticket with hopes of winning big. As their dissatisfaction grows, they entertain dark thoughts of plotting each other’s demise to claim the lottery prize. Such drastic measures will undoubtedly lead to dire consequences.
This story unfolds as a flashy, albeit foolish, comedy, punctuated by well-timed musical cues and sprinkled with humor. Set against the backdrop of one of the Turkish Riviera’s most breathtaking and azure locales, it offers a visual feast that transcends cultural boundaries, catering to audiences beyond Turkey. The film’s aim is simple: to whisk you away from reality to exotic locales inaccessible to the naked eye, offering an escape from the mundane.
“Kill Me If You Dare,” helmed by director Filip Zylber, seems more fixated on showcasing lavish settings than on fleshing out its narrative or characters. For an hour and thirty-four minutes, the film is punctuated by exuberant outbursts. While the characters lament their financial woes, they conveniently find themselves in upscale accommodations thanks to the intervention of well-off friends.
Natalia and her husband Piotr’s relationship may lack depth. The film opens with Piotr’s frantic proposal to Natalia at a train station. As cracks in their marriage surface over a monetary windfall, so do insecurities from their courtship. Misguided assumptions lead them to suspect each other of wanting to seize control of their lives for financial gain. This paranoia fuels their belief that their spouse is plotting their demise, with even their hapless friends Lukasz and Agata inadvertently encouraging them to concoct elaborate and deadly schemes.
While the protagonist relies heavily on physical humor and facial expressions, the supporting cast shines, particularly Gonca, whose rambling and bizarre antics, along with her clever reenactment of Okan’s demise, elicit the most laughter from viewers, albeit sometimes difficult to follow in subtitles. The film’s climax, featuring Bülent’s over-the-top ax-wielding antics, adds a touch of dramatic and macabre humor, standing out as some of the best comedic violence in Turkish cinema.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.
The film heavily relies on absurd plot devices, leaving one to question if the filmmakers underestimated the intelligence of their target audience. It follows a predictable trajectory, culminating in a contrived scene seemingly inspired by the comedy-slasher genre and reminiscent of a moment from “The Shining.” The obligatory happy ending feels forced and formulaic. Overall, this film earns a rating of two out of five stars.
