Entertainment

Unrated, Extremely Graphic Thriller Tries To Kill You But Can’t

By Robert Scucci
| Published 2 seconds ago

1978’s The Odd Job is a comedy of errors about a man who hires a janitor to kill him because he’s too much of a coward to end his own life. It’s a slapstick effort written by Graham Chapman that’s way funnier than its critical reputation suggests, and on one hand, I get it. It’s essentially the same gag repeated over and over again, with mixed results, landing if you’re a fan of the kind of irreverent humor that only somebody from the Monty Python comedy troupe could deliver with a wink and a nod.

Toying with a similar premise is 2014’s The Suicide Theory, which centers on a comparable setup but with wildly different results (namely, it’s not a comedy). In The Suicide Theory, we’re introduced to a contract killer hired by a man who no longer wants to live. The problem is that he’s given suicide the old college try on countless occasions leading up to this point and is convinced he’s invincible. While both films feature the same kind of contractual relationship in which one man wants to be eliminated from his mortal coil, The Suicide Theory is existentially heavy, focusing primarily on fate, free will, and how they’re constantly at odds with each other.

Steven And Percival’s Deadly Dynamic

The Suicide Theory wastes no time setting up its conflict when Steven (Steve Mouzakis) is tracked down by a desperate man named Percival (Leon Cain). Percival already looks worse for wear, with scars all over his face indicating that he wouldn’t be hiring a hitman if he hadn’t already tried to die, and failed miserably, countless times. Not even sure if Steven can successfully kill him, Percival hands over a large sum of cash and tells the killer that he doesn’t want to see it coming, and that since he believes he may be cursed, an attempt can only be made on his life if he looks legitimately happy.

Up to the challenge, but not one to believe Percival’s claims, Steven immediately shoots Percival in the chest three times upon making the arrangement, only for the man to wake up hours later in the hospital with no major injuries. Percival is further upset when he learns that the doctors found a massive tumor near one of the bullet wounds and were able to remove it while they were in there, meaning getting shot actually saved his life.

Fascinated by this project, Steven, who’s lost his passion for contract killing, keeps his promise and continues searching for new ways to execute Percival, none of which work. Steven, who’s been afraid of crossing streets ever since his wife was struck by a car and killed three years prior, can’t always chase Percival down due to his phobia, but has no qualms about hailing a taxi cab to help him cross the street if he needs to.

An Exploration Of Fate And Purpose

As we get to know the two principal players in The Suicide Theory, it becomes evident that they’re not so different. One man is a hardened, cold-hearted killer who’s lost his passion for the game, while the other is so deeply wounded that even multiple suicide attempts can’t put him out of his misery.

It’s almost as if he’s done something so horrible in life that his cosmic punishment is never being able to end it on his own terms. The two men become friends, if you could call it that, and come to realize they were supposed to meet each other, as if fate had been waiting for them. The reason their paths cross, when finally revealed, is the kind of gut punch that will make you wish you were watching The Odd Job instead, because it’s a brutal way to spend your time.

The Suicide Theory is not an easy watch, but it’s a rewarding one. It’s an exploration of fate and destiny taken to its most morbid conclusion, and it’s not without a dark sense of humor. It’s not “haha” funny by any stretch, but every time Percival wakes up in the hospital wondering how he made it out alive this time, you can’t help but sport a wry smile because he’s trying everything he can to not wake up ever again. Steven’s odyssey is all about finding purpose; he wants to hang up his gun for good, but knows this last job is an important one. But it’s up to you, dear reader, to figure out why.