Diagnosis: Death. Reviewed By Brian Kirst
An odd horror-comedy combined with some thriller and ghost story ascetics, Diagnosis: Death not only features members of Flight of the Concords in supporting roles, but also proves itself to be a pleasant diversion from zombie/remake/sci-fi-horror hybrids– although, one’s comfort zone for a plotline revolving around a medical trial for terminal cancer patients may have a lot to do with the pleasure one takes from this quirky little gem.
Andre Chang, a lecherous English teacher, finding himself with weeks to live, desperately agrees to be part of a focus group for a new drug. While at the research clinic, he begins to see hallucinations of a young child while catching the eye of a plucky schoolgirl, Juliet, and the ire of an acidic, arch nurse. Soon, Andre and Juliet find themselves unraveling the mystery of the child while trying to outrace death in more ways than one.
As Chang, Raybon Chang (who also wrote and produced) gives a devilish twist of a performance and one actually comes to care for his sullied professor as he matures (a bit) throughout the proceedings. Suze Tye (as Nurse Bates) and Jessica Grace Smith as Juliet are appropriately clipped and endearing – while some nice (albeit minor) gore pieces decorate the film’s revealing climax.
Pleasantly unusual, Diagnosis: Death is ultimately proves it itself to be better than a shot of penicillin and a full bed pan on a warm and sunny day.
https://www.diagnosisdeath.co.uk/
