Spoilers are coming at you with a keyboard.

Setting up an outrageous situation without explanation requires an almost flawless execution, an impeccable comedic timing, some trippy visuals, subverted storytelling or often enough, all of the above. All things considered, it’s a risky premise but it can entertain the right audience if it exceeds at least one of those things. Let’s see if we need to talk to HR.

Vincent Must Die (2023) was directed by Stephan Castang. Our titular character, Vincent (Karim Leklou) is just another office employee working a 9 to 5 job. One day, he makes a rather silly joke to one of the interns. In all fairness, it was a stupid joke and he should be killed chastised for it. So naturally, the intern smacks him with a laptop. I mean, that was not natural at all. Something’s going on and random people that stare at Vincent too long seem to want his demise. To be fair, he’s got a very punchable face.

After a couple of incidents, the company decides it’s better for Vincent if he works from home. This is the first of a few incidents that set him on a path to leave the city and aim for the countryside. In the meantime, we’ll discover that he’s not completely alone in his miserable destiny. Unfortunately, this is when the premise and the comedic timing start to lose steam. I can’t help but thinking the urban setting would have been a lot more fertile ground for crazy scenarios.

The feature is also tagged as a thriller. To be honest, I don’t see it working as such. I’m not invested enough in the character and I think his performance is signaling a comedic underdog that doesn’t have any noticeable development. If I feel that the story has some light comedy at the start, I don’t think it gains a thriller nature later on. If at all, it never builds the necessary tension for it.

Lightly recommended with reservations. Perhaps it would be likable for an audience looking for awkward light humour. I feel like any momentum that it had going is left behind once the very killable Vincent leaves the city for the country. Whether you’ll like it depends on personal preference. The main character never seems to develop nor gain any empathy which is why it’s not something I’d choose to watch. I’d still like to punch him in the face say it would’ve worked better as a full comedy. Then again, your mileage might vary.

That will do for now.