Play Dead (2022): Twisted Fear Comes Alive

You’re going to play dead? But you’re still alive.

Play Dead is a 2022 thriller. To rid evidence of potential jail time, Chloe fakes her own death and is taken to the morgue. As Chloe sneaks around the dark halls, she learns the dark truth of what the coroner is really doing in this twisted business.

Have you endured nightmares where you are trapped in a morgue? This film answers that nightmare. I have been waiting to see Play Dead for a while now. The film blends elements of mystery, horror, and suspense with a unique twist, though Play Dead’s intriguing premise transcends into a corny story.

I have always loved Bailey Madison. I grew up watching her in media, like Parental Guidance and Once Upon a Time. Madison is the highlight of Play Dead in her performance as Chloe. She wanted to star in this film as she was up for a challenge. Chloe’s morbid idea works as she puts on a good dead act and sneaks around the dark corners of the morgue.

Jerry O'Connell plays the evil morgue owner, the actor who played the lovable and goofy Verne in Stand By Me (1986). In his introduction, the coroner speaks only with his eyes. If this film had taken a different direction, the coroner would have been more intimidating in his non-verbal behavior.

I liked the sibling dynamic between Chloe and T.J. (Anthony Turpel). Turpel is humorous in his deliveries and he is the biggest clutz ever. Credits include Chris Lee, Chris Butler, Jorge-Luis Pallo, and Kyler O’Neal. The film could have done well between Madison and O’Connell, instead of trying to make other characters work in the script.

In my opinion, Play Dead deserved a different setup. It was too long at one hour and 46 minutes and eventually jumped the shark. Play Dead started promising, occasionally having campy moments and characters, but I liked how Patrick Lussier directed scenes. The film wastes no time getting into the plot, bypassing unneeded scenes.

It’s suspenseful when Chloe first shows up at the morgue. This is smart writing for an out-there premise. She has to keep as still as humanly possible (dark pun). As Chloe sneaks through the halls, the film enforces actions and no dialogue. If only the rest of the film stayed this way.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. The morgue setting, with its sterile and isolated corridors, creates a chilling backdrop for the action. The setup for the film takes advantage of its tense and claustrophobic atmosphere. The use of lighting and sound enhances the tension, especially when Chloe attempts to outwit the coroner.

The filmmakers did their research on morgues. Filmmakers placed some dark artwork on the walls. In case you are wondering what a mortician's job is like, it’s not for those with weak stomachs. In one scene, viewers have the front seat in watching the mortician removing a body part in bloody heaps. This is the type of job you never want to think about.

Play Dead would have performed better as a 30-minute film. It has several missed opportunities. The film becomes too corny to take seriously with storylines and new characters who arrive into the plot. The pacing is uneven, with some moments dragging on longer than necessary and others feeling rushed. I stopped taking it seriously by the end.

Play Dead is farfetched and corny, but take a look at it. The film is something different and I was intrigued by it. Not many scary movies take place in morgues.