A Lovely Death: A Dark Fairy Tale Romance, A Painless End

Miguel del Campo’s A Lovely Death is a 7-minute gothic horror that imbues the Grim Reaper with the same kind of tenderness as Edward Scissorhands. A chamber film with a cast of three, the Grim Reaper’s power has limited but notable demonstration. With the same kind of macabre power as Midas, whatever the Reaper touches with his bare fingers becomes lifeless instantly. 

What then is to be the fate of his love with a young woman (Felicity, played by Chantal Casutt), whose abusive partner (Nico Elia Wander) he gently puts to rest, and in whose house he takes up silent residence? For the Reaper (Roy Shellef) is as wordless as his powers are unquestionable. Felicity meets him on an unfortunate evening (indeed, could meeting the Grim Reaper usually be anything but unfortunate?) standing in her kitchen. 

When a minor disagreement with her partner leads to an abusive altercation, the Reaper effortlessly puts an end to it. Thus begins a love story between the deathly pale, utterly wordless and rather respectful Reaper and the upbeat Felicity (though no dialogues are audible; the film communicates through its score). The condition is one and needs to be religiously followed. The Reaper must always keep his hands covered. A touch of his naked fingers, however unthinking, slight, or gentle, will lead to tragedy. In the process, one forgets to ask why Felicity can see the Reaper at all.   

Though the cinematography is less than stellar, the film’s attempt to sweeten Death himself is largely successful, maintaining the feel of a dark fairy tale. There is the simplicity of an oft-recited old tale, the music to fill in the gaps in the absence of depth, and a preoccupation with inescapable fate. A Lovely Death thus does not try too hard to deflect the viewer’s attention from its conclusion, only allowing Death to make the journey there more pleasant, less morbid. 

Watch A Lovely Death Short Film Trailer