How Charlie Day’s “Unreliable Narrator” In 100% RT Murder Mystery Gives It A Unique Edge

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Charlie Day is trying something new in his latest movie by acting as the storyteller, a choice he and his collaborators from ‘Kill Me’ believe sets the film apart.

Glenn Howerton, known for his role in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, stars as Jimmy Pierce, a dog walker struggling with manic depression and a past suicide attempt. The story begins with Jimmy waking up in his bathtub with self-inflicted wrist wounds, and everyone assuming it was another attempt on his life. However, Jimmy claims he didn’t try to harm himself and believes someone staged the scene to look like a suicide, launching him into a risky investigation.

Joining Day in the cast are Allison Williams (from M3GAN) as Margot, the 911 operator who starts assisting Jimmy with his investigation; Aya Cash (The Boys) as Alice, Jimmy’s sister with a difficult past; and Giancarlo Esposito as Dr. Singer, Jimmy’s therapist. Kill Me premiered on March 12th and has received excellent reviews, currently boasting a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

To celebrate the premiere of their film, Kill Me, ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan spoke with Charlie Day, Allison Williams, Giancarlo Esposito, and director Peter Warren at SXSW. Warren shared that he wanted to explore the murder mystery genre in a new way, creating a ‘whodunit’ unlike anything he’d seen before. This approach allowed him to tell a complete story about mental health and suicidal thoughts, which surprisingly blended well with the film’s goal of being a fun, funny, and scary movie.

Day remembered being very enthusiastic about playing a narrator audiences couldn’t fully trust in Kill Me. He felt unreliable narrators are a strong storytelling device, particularly in psychological thrillers. He explained that these roles give filmmakers a unique advantage, calling it a “dream role” and one of the most enjoyable experiences in his almost 30 years as an actor.

I love psychological thrillers, especially when the movie makes you question someone you thought you could trust. It’s a really effective storytelling trick. With this film, Peter gave me everything I needed as an actor – humor, emotional depth, and plenty of suspense to work with.

Kill Me Perfectly Fit The Cast’s Goal To FInd New Kinds Of Roles

ScreenRant: Allison, how did you get involved with this one here?

I felt really fortunate to be asked to join this project – it was a happy surprise! I received the script, and I immediately thought it was fantastic. My only concern was the script’s unusual tone, so I wanted to meet the director to be sure he understood it. He did, and that’s how we ended up here. It was a quick, enjoyable read, and I think people will really love it when it’s released. It’s genuinely funny, especially the stage directions – I still remember one describing a social worker speaking like she was talking to a baby goat!

Peter Warren: She talks to him like petting a goat. [Chuckles]

I was immediately drawn to the role because of one particular stage direction for the social worker – it was honestly one of the best I’ve ever seen! It really made my decision easy. But working on this project has given me a whole new perspective on dealing with your own mental health. It’s a surprisingly solitary journey, and can feel really lonely, even when you have supportive people around. Ultimately, you’re the only one inside your own head, so you have to take the initiative and figure things out for yourself. It’s about really digging deep and solving the mystery of what’s going on within you.

ScreenRant: Tell me about the character that you play, and what his dynamic is with the rest.

I play Dr. Singer, Charlie’s doctor, and I’m genuinely worried about him – I’ve been treating him for a while now. Real progress only comes from being honest with yourself. Charlie attempts to open up, but then realizes he’s revealed things that concern Dr. Singer, making it clear he needs help. It’s interesting because, having experienced psychiatry and therapy myself, I know how hard it is to find a therapist you truly trust. What’s admirable about this story is that Charlie takes the initiative to unravel the mystery surrounding his own struggles and really understand what’s happening. He even tells Dr. Singer he stopped taking his medication months ago – a moment that resonated with me, because you can’t gain clarity when you’re not thinking clearly. You need to work things out while you’re actively dealing with them, and with honesty. I particularly enjoyed this movie because it’s a unique blend of profound emotion, intimacy, humor, and tragedy. It’s designed to make you feel things you didn’t expect, and to confront your own experiences. It plays out both on screen with Charlie, and within the viewer’s own mind – you find yourself thinking, “Oh, I relate to that, I’ve been through that, but never talked about it.” It’s a dynamic and engaging film, unlike many you see today, and I was thrilled to be a part of it, playing a character who offers advice, even if it’s just textbook knowledge.

ScreenRant commented to Giancarlo that they’d trust his advice without question, simply because of his trustworthy demeanor.

Giancarlo Esposito explains that being open and honest with yourself – and others – is key. The more you reveal, the more truthful you can be, but it requires accepting your past. He points to a scene in the movie where a character is confronted about repeating a mistake. This moment highlights the realization that people change, and it’s possible to acknowledge past actions while recognizing you’re different now. He wonders how often we can achieve that kind of self-awareness and say, ‘I used to be that person, but I’ve moved on.’

ScreenRant: Can you give me a piece of life advice?

Giancarlo Esposito: Oh my gosh. Follow your heart, and don’t wait to be great.

The interviewer from ScreenRant told Charlie that he’d heard this role was a dream come true for him. They also mentioned that many people ask about his character, Charlie Kelly, and about Marnie, who has become a fan favorite.

Allison Williams: Justice. Thank you so much.

ScreenRant asked about balancing a strong connection to a character with choosing new roles. They wanted to know what qualities she looks for in a part after becoming so invested in one.

When I decide to work on a project, the people involved are really important to me. In this case, the script was fantastic, and Peter was directing his first movie, which meant taking a bit of a chance. But I’d known Peter for about a year and felt confident in his abilities. Ultimately, it comes down to the writing and the story – does it resonate with me, can I see myself in the role? The performances by the other actors were incredible; their grounded and mature approach allowed me to play a more energetic and over-the-top character while still feeling believable. That combination made it an easy decision for me.

As a movie lover, one of the most thrilling things for me is watching a truly great actor surprise you. It’s amazing when they get to show off skills we haven’t seen from them before. Charlie’s dramatic performances are just powerful and unforgettable. Allison always brings such grace and sophistication to her roles, which is wonderful. But then you have someone like Margot, who plays a character really struggling and living a hard life. Seeing the warmth Giancarlo Esposito brought to his role was just phenomenal – it really stuck with me.

Charlie Day: A genuine sweetness.

I think actors naturally look for roles that are very different from what they’ve done before, or even from themselves. We get to transform ourselves for work, and that should be enjoyable! That’s why it doesn’t make sense to me when a movie set is unpleasant – we’re incredibly lucky to do what we do, essentially professional storytellers. I recently finished the M3GAN sequel, and it was really fun to play a character so unlike the first one. I found it especially interesting to play someone struggling with their own issues alongside another person in a similar situation, and to see how that connection actually helped both of them grow. It’s a dynamic you wouldn’t necessarily expect to work, but it did.

Be sure to dive into some of ScreenRant‘s other SXSW coverage with:

  • Sun Never Sets Review
  • Dead Eyes Review
  • One Another Review
  • Dakota Fanning reacting to All Her Fault‘s record-breaking success
  • Kill Me Review
  • Sydney Chandler sharing her ideal Alien: Earth season 2 story for Wendy and the Lost Boys as production ramps up
  • Chandler, Takehiro Hira, Maximilian Lee Piazza & Brian Tetsuro Ivie talk Anima‘s experimental filming
  • Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Review
  • Saviors Review
  • Robin Tunney weighing in on a Mentalist revival after its Netflix resurgence
  • The cast and producer of I Love Boosters hype Boots Riley & Keke Palmer’s “unapologetic” new crime movie
  • Yul Vazquez explaining why he has yet to return to Severance
  • Jake Johnson on the chances of Peter B. Parker getting a Spider-Verse live-action spinoff
  • David E. Kelley, Elle Fanning and the Margo’s Got Money Troubles cast on their Apple TV comedy and why Michelle Pfeiffer was the only choice to help lead it
  • Elijah Wood teasing that his mysterious Ready or Not 2: Here I Come character may be immortal
  • The Ready or Not 2: Here I Come director and cast on the sequel’s new cabal of wealthy Satanists
  • The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist team breaking down just how extensive their research was
  • Family Movie Review
  • Jessica Rothe on the ongoing wait for Happy Death Day 3 to close out the Blumhouse franchise
  • Power Ballad Review
  • BenDavid Grabinski on how Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice breaks a classic sci-fi time-travel trope
  • Dakota Fanning, Joe Swanberg, Jake Johnson & Cory Michael Smith on the bizarre experience filming The Sun Never Sets
  • John Goodman responding to Monsters Inc. 3 reports
  • Kevin Hamedani sharing how the Adam Scott and Danielle Deadwyler-led The Saviors was inspired by both The Twilight Zone and The X-Files
  • Brea Grant & her Grind team on how they turned a short film into a DIY horror hit
  • Uma Thurman and the Pretty Lethal team on mixing R-rated ballet-fu action with a touching central message

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2026-03-16 02:12