Summary
The story of a man who fakes his death to save his family from financial ruin, and returns to find out things aren’t what he expected, is suspenseful but slow. However, the ending is worth the wait.
Mystery films should leave audiences in shock and awe. We expect unpredictable twists, high intensity, and an emotional end for our protagonist. So what makes Rest in Peace (2024) stand out among the hundreds of options on Netflix? Nothing much. I can’t deny the acting is compelling, but it feels wasted as we do not truly delve into our characters and their emotions.
The Spanish mystery drama is directed by Sebastián Borensztein and adapted from Martin Baintrub’s novel Descansar en paz. It stars Joaquín Furriel, Griselda Siciliani, Gabriel Goity, Lali Gonzalez, and Luciano Borges.
The story follows Sergio, who is riddled with debt and takes advantage of an unexpected situation. He fakes his death and chooses to live off the grid under a false identity to free himself of these financial burdens; believing his family would use his life insurance policy. After years and years, he begins to miss his family and eventually returns home. He discovers the reality is not what he anticipated, as his wife has married a man he owed money to and his children call him dad.
The story jumps 15 years, which drives the element of being haunted by your life choices in ways you could’ve never predicted. There is the underlying element about the lengths someone will go to for the people they love; testing our ideas and perceptions of what love is, especially unconditional love.
Sergio Is A Complex Protagonist
Sergio’s character isn’t without flaws, but he acts out of love. So the character is likable, and his actions feel justified. It’s just the plot that lacks consistency. Slowly built-up scenes mixed with plot points unfolding rapidly do not leave room for deep character exploration.
The acting is to a very high standard. You can feel Sergio’s stress and anxiety, and through Furriel’s compelling performance, his actions are always undeniable.
An Interesting Ending Still Feels Lacklustre
Towards the end, things take an interesting turn and this is where the film is its strongest, most suspenseful, and most sorrowful. However, it is less impacting than I thought and a little disappointing. I would have wanted a stronger twist, more emotion, more drama. But what we’re left with is a predictable, but no less sad, ending with no real resolution.
Whilst there are points where Rest in Peace feels disjointed and slightly dragged out, it offers a good amount of suspense and will keep you invested. Any drama film fans will be well served here.
What did you think of Rest in Peace (2024)? Comment below.
Read our breakdown of Rest in Peace’s ending for more depth on the movie’s most interesting aspect.
