The story of Sometimes I Think About Dying
Fran spends most of her time imagining her own death. Not in a crisis way—it's more like a habit, a mental escape that makes her quiet life feel less empty. She works in an office, goes through the motions, keeps her distance from people. Then a new guy shows up at work, and he laughs at something she says. It's small. Unremarkable to anyone watching. But for Fran, it's a spark—the kind of thing that shouldn't matter but does. What follows is the slow, awkward, beautiful mess of two people trying to connect when one of them is terrified of wanting anything at all. Sometimes I Think About Dying isn't a film about grand gestures. It's about pie and conversations and the way someone's attention can feel like oxygen when you've been holding your breath for years.
Behind the making of Sometimes I Think About Dying
Director Rachel Lambert brought this story to life after a journey that began years before the 2024 release. The film's roots trace back to a 2014 play called "Killers" by Kevin Armento, which was then adapted into a 2019 short film directed and co-written by Stefanie Abel Horowitz. That short caught the attention of producers at Page Fifty-Four Pictures, Mirror Image Films, Sweet Tomato Films, and Point Productions, who greenlit the feature-length expansion. Armento, Horowitz, and Katy Wright-Mead share writing credits on the final screenplay—a collaborative effort that shows in the film's careful, character-driven construction.
The cast assembled around Daisy Ridley includes Dave Merheje in the role of the new coworker, alongside supporting performances from Parvesh Cheena, Marcia DeBonis, Meg Stalter, Brittany O'Grady, and Bree Elrod. Ridley, known for her work in the Star Wars franchise, stepped into something completely different here—a role that demanded stillness, vulnerability, and the kind of quiet acting that doesn't announce itself. The film's runtime of 94 minutes keeps it lean and focused, avoiding the bloat that can undermine intimate character pieces. While box office numbers weren't blockbuster territory (indie dramas rarely are), the film found an audience at film festivals and among viewers hungry for something that doesn't need explosions or plot twists to justify its existence.
What makes Sometimes I Think About Dying stand out
There's something almost defiant about how slowly this film moves. Critics and audiences have noted that the pacing won't work for everyone—and that's honest filmmaking, not a flaw. What's striking is how the deliberate rhythm actually becomes the point. Lingering cinematography that lets you sit in Fran's discomfort. An atmospheric score that doesn't try to manipulate your emotions but rather mirrors them. The thing that keeps coming up in reviews is Daisy Ridley's performance. It's restrained in a way that shouldn't work—long silences, minimal expressions, the kind of acting that lives in what isn't said—yet it's magnetic. You can't look away because you're watching someone slowly, painfully, hopefully come alive.
One reviewer from Screen Zealots captured it well: the film is "rooted in depth" beneath its surface simplicity, a character piece about social anxiety and loneliness that doesn't pretend these things are easy to overcome or make for entertaining television. Another noted that Ridley delivers "the best performance" of her career here, hands down. The cinematography itself becomes a character—beautiful, carefully composed shots of ordinary spaces that somehow make Fran's internal landscape visible. There's also an honesty about how the film handles the romance. It doesn't pretend that connection solves everything. It's messier than that. It's tentative. It's Fran fighting herself as much as she's reaching toward someone else. That contradiction—that's what makes it real.
Where to stream Sometimes I Think About Dying online
Sometimes I Think About Dying is available across major OTT platforms, and you can check the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page to see which services are currently streaming it in your region. Availability shifts regularly depending on licensing agreements, so Movie OTT tracks real-time updates across all major providers to save you the hunting. Whether you're a Netflix subscriber, Prime Video watcher, or using another streaming service, there's a good chance you can access this film without renting or purchasing separately. Since it's a 2024 release, it's still in active rotation on platforms looking for quality indie content that appeals to adult audiences seeking character-driven stories.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Sometimes I Think About Dying?
Rachel Lambert directed the film. It's her feature directorial work, though the story has roots in a 2014 play and a 2019 short film that came before it.
Q: Is Sometimes I Think About Dying based on a true story?
No, it's not based on a true story, but it's based on a 2014 play called "Killers" by Kevin Armento, which was adapted into a short film in 2019 before becoming this feature.
Q: How long is Sometimes I Think About Dying?
The film runs 94 minutes, making it a lean, focused character study without unnecessary padding.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for Sometimes I Think About Dying?
The film has a 6.793/10 rating on IMDb, reflecting its divisive nature—audiences either connect deeply with its slow-burn approach or find it too uneventful.
Q: Is Sometimes I Think About Dying a comedy or a drama?
It's officially listed as a drama, comedy, and romance. The humor is understated and character-based rather than joke-driven, woven into the fabric of human awkwardness and small moments of connection.
Final thoughts on Sometimes I Think About Dying
This isn't a film for everyone, and that's okay. If you're looking for plot momentum, conventional romance beats, or feel-good resolutions, you'll probably find Sometimes I Think About Dying frustrating. But if you're someone who values performances, cinematography, and the quiet courage it takes to let yourself want something—this one's for you. Daisy Ridley's work here is genuinely career-best. The film trusts its audience to find meaning in small moments. Watch it when you're in the mood to slow down, to sit with someone else's loneliness and hope. It'll stick with you longer than you'd expect from something so seemingly uneventful.
