REVIEW: “Die My Love” (2025)

by

In Lynne Ramsay’s latest film, “Die My Love,” Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson play a couple in a relationship destined to fail. It’s a stark and difficult watch, similar in tone to her 2017 film, “You Were Never Really Here.” While based on a novel, the movie quickly establishes its central themes, and the rest of the runtime feels like a relentless depiction of a woman’s downward spiral and unhappiness.

Written by Ramsay, Enda Walsh, and Alice Birch, “Die My Love” is a harsh and unsettling story about motherhood and mental illness. While it touches on difficult topics like postpartum depression and loneliness, the film focuses more on relentlessly deconstructing the main character, both physically and emotionally, than on deeply exploring those themes. The filmmakers present a cold and unforgiving portrayal, not only of the characters but also for the audience.

The movie begins with Grace and Jackson, a troubled couple, who leave city life behind for a secluded house in rural Montana that Jackson inherited. After settling in and a somewhat silly montage, they have a son. The rest of the film shows their relationship gradually falling apart.

Grace and Jackson are both leading reckless and damaging lives, and it’s clear their story won’t have a happy ending. Though Jackson struggles with his own problems, Grace becomes the main focus of Ramsay’s attention. She’s a writer who has lost her creative spark after becoming a mother and feeling unsupported. Jackson is often away working, and when he is home, his thoughtless behavior only makes things worse for her, pushing her towards a breaking point.

It’s not shocking that the relationship feels forced, as Grace and Jackson never come across as a believable couple. Their conversations lack authenticity, and many scenes feel artificial, like they’re performing for the cameras. While Sissy Spacek and Nick Nolte offer solid supporting performances, they do more to create a sense of realism than Grace and Jackson do as a pair. Ultimately, this lack of connection leaves us with characters who feel superficial and immature, rather than a genuinely complex and relatable couple.

The film centers on Grace’s disturbing decline. What starts as potential postpartum depression quickly escalates into behavior that feels more like a complete mental breakdown. Jennifer Lawrence gives a very committed performance, showing Grace at her most extreme – crawling, barking, self-harming, and acting erratically around her husband. While this type of intense portrayal often impresses awards voters, here it feels surprisingly empty and unconvincing.

I have to say, I was really disappointed with “Die My Love” compared to Ramsay’s other films. It felt like it was trying way too hard to shock me, but without any real depth. Beyond some strange music choices and flashy style, the movie just seemed focused on pushing Grace toward a breakdown, and honestly, it felt pointless. The story revealed its hand so early on – around the 20-minute mark, really – that even when the film tries to suggest Grace is recovering, it doesn’t feel believable. Her sudden interest in a normal life just rings hollow.

“Die My Love” is a frustrating film. It feels like a long wait for something dramatic to happen with the main character, ultimately delivering mostly bleakness without much relief. While director Alix Ramsay is skilled at creating dark and disturbing stories, this film seems more concerned with style and pushing her lead actress too far than with a compelling narrative.

Read More

2025-11-07 18:57