Despite seeing a downturn in popularity, wacky murder mysteries with ensemble casts never completely went away. Helen’s Dead is the latest addition to this fun subgenre. Addie (Dylan Gelula, S#!%house) learns that her long time boyfriend Adam (Emile Hirsch, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood) slept with her cousin Helen (Matilda Lutz, Final Cut). When the title character’s body is found at a dinner party, each guest becomes a suspect.
With the mystery in place, Helen’s Dead introduces its characters and their many eccentricities. There are shadowy figures, shocking reveals, and mysterious connections. Each player appears on cue. There is the person who drinks too much, the wannabe actor, and the canceled influencer.
It takes more than having the right ingredients to cook up an enjoyable murder at a dinner party movie, however. The mystery will draw audiences in, but the characters do not go beyond their quirky traits. Yes, they are zany and Helen’s Dead even manages some laughs, but they end up being more annoying than anything else.
Helen’s Dead does not provide the chaos the premise needs. In these types of films, the whodunit is usually secondary to the wild antics that ensue. Again, there are a few fun moments, but just when it seems like things are ramping up, the script slows everything back down. At times, it almost seems to be working against the audience. The performances are the best part of the movie. Though he can be a little too over the top at times, Hirsch does bring energy. The entire cast have great chemistry and do their best to keep Helen’s Dead interesting. It is unfortunate, the writing is not as committed.
Helen’s Dead is available in theaters and On Demand
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