South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival – Raucously funny and delightfully dark Joanne is Dead takes place in the last place you would expect – an elderly care facility. When a hospice care worker (Barry Rothbart) is stuck on a shift with a crazy, dementia riddled patient (Jenny O’Hara) he expects annoyance. He’s used to her rants, and her continual references to a woman named Joanne. He assumes this is some long lost lover or an old friend, but in a moment of clarity, the truth comes out, and it’s nothing like he expects.

Perfectly written, perfectly bizarre, and perfectly twisted, Joanne is Dead is a delicious masterclass in simplicity. Small sets, limited locations, and a tiny cast bring the short script to life with vim and vigor. It’s a romp in the absolute most fun way. What could easily be a depressing story – filled with unlikable characters – turns into something uproariously fun, and funny. At the same time, there’s a dark underbelly that amps up through the short runtime and leads to an iconic moment that absolutely deserves to go down in the history books of comedy horror imagery.

Nothing close to what you’re expecting or imagining, Joanne is Dead is absolutely brilliantly unconventional. I am a sucker for a rocking narrative short, and this one delivers in blow after blow of thrilling comedy.

Joanne is Dead reviewed as part of our South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival coverage.

9 out of 10