User reviews

This movie was inspired by an actual event that took place, not in Alabama, but in Enumclaw, Washington. (Should you want to see this documentary, it's called "Zoo.") Billy Chew apparently thought Alabama, which itself has been the location of lots of strange activity, would be a funnier place for the film.

My family is from Alabama, as is Daniel Scheinert, the director of the film. Some of them would think the movie is hilarious, and recognize themselves in the relationships between the slacker men and smart wives, the families that are all about church but get high on the weekend, the laconic, knowing cops, the impossibility of keeping a secret in a small town, and a culture built around family and kids. They all ring true to me.

The movie is very dark comedy about the misadventures of three buddies who get too drunk at band practice and do some stupid things. One of them ends up dead. Just how drunk they get and how stupid they get is teased out during the movie.

During the process, the story explores the loving connections the buddies have to their families, and the weight that the solution to the death has on the sheriff.

It's a good movie, but not for everyone,

This is a dark comedy that's rarely makes one laugh out loud, but it's still funny, and extremely weird. For me it has hints of Fargo, Beavis and Butthead, and Dale and Tucker vs Evil. The twist is disturbing (without being graphic), unique and utterly unexpected. The characters are (sadly) believable, even if most are stereotypical. Worth a watch.

Well we know the premise of this movie basically from the title. Dick dies and only his two best friends and band mates know how it happened, only thing is, they're not talking.

I have to admit, I did NOT see that twist coming due to how suspenseful and shrouded in mystery of Dick's death was throughout the majority of this film. Chances are you won't see it either. So just do your best to imagine how 3 low IQ, bumbling, no talent, drunk, high, rednecks act up to when they're left alone to their wild shenanigans.

This movie isn't a "comedy" in the sense that there are jokes or any sorts of punchlines. The characters themselves ARE the punchline to a really bad and tasteless joke. There's no slapstick or outright humor to be found, yet it's comedic aspect comes from just how clueless the main character is and how every decision he makes just makes things worse for himself.

So it's a weird movie and it's pacing definitely won't be for everyone. I rated it a 6 because while it kept me interested and curious the entire film by the end of it I wished it had gone further with the content. It's equal parts mystery, suspense, and comedy with an answer to a question you just plain aren't expecting but at a relatively slow pace. There's no gag or gross out humor, no nudity, just some occasional swearing.

This film tells the story of two friends, who has to face the consequences of their wild night out.

The scene is set pretty quickly, and the complicated situation faced by the two main characters are very well portrayed. The story is dark, but the tone of the film is light. The film is funny, but not disrespectful of Dick Long. It is quite a surprising for me to like a dark comedy, and I liked it.

One thing to remember about people who descend into a life of crime is they can be incredibly stupid and make poor decisions. On top of that, add drugs and alcohol and you set the stage for this film. None of the actions taken by the characters are really all that unbelievable, especially when you consider the backwoods area where it all takes place - there is a certain culture you'll find among working class, low income people in the rural south, and this film captures it well. That said, it does branch into comedy given the pure buffoonery of these people. Some of the dialogue is also layered well to provide comic relief. I think comparisons to Fargo are fair; I don't think the merits of this film quite raise to that level - but it does go into similar territory. It's a fairly light film overall that doesn't carry much much of a message or delve too deep, but it remains entertaining on a superficial level.

The Death of Dick Long is a film so weird that the film simply existing is a big win. It's just a bonus that it's also a very sincere drama hiding the weirdest answer to what seems like a fairly simple question. There's some substantial pacing issues but originality makes up for a lot in this case.

Everyone here nails the specific kind of quirk this film is going for however, Michael Abbott Jr. Is the standout. Spending a lot of the film stressed out with a level of incompetence that would make Coen brothers characters feel smart by comparison. He even turns the wildest twist into a heartbreaking moment.

Daniel Scheinert's direction starts the film strong, then gets some solid tension out of its interrogations and Zeke's struggles to hide the truth. The frenetic score by Andy Hull and Robert McDowell is an ideal companion to what's on screen and the decision to end on a nickelback song really fits.

This is not that funny of a film. The stupidity of the characters actually plays more to tragedy than comedy in my opinion. The movie is a mixture of dark comedy, situational humor, investigative ineptitude, surprisingly good acting, and an entertaining (if aimless) narrative.

Maybe my love for the Trailer Park Boys predisposed me to liking podunk humor, but I was entertained throughout the whole thing.

It just feels weird to give this an 8...because...you'll understand when you see it.

I didn't know what the expect but man... they did get weird. I was expecting Fargo vibes but this took a whole different turn. The dark comedy is done well I must say.

The description classes this movie to have crime, comedy and drama. If you want to watch crime you'd be better off watching a Judge Judy episode and I'm saying that in a sense that I don't like Judge Judy. The only comedy you'll find is "smirking" at how dumb the main actors must be to the point that makes you wonder how they can afford cars and be in relationships. The overwhelming amount of drama relating to the crimes committed is undeserved.

If you want to see "weird" like many of my fellow reviewers are classing this movie as, be prepared to waste your time because it's not weird, it's just plain stupid. I couldn't imagine reading the script and thinking I want my name to be a part of this. I would take the job but wouldn't tell my friends about it. The acting was good. After seeing the ending you'll know the script is illogical in so many aspects.

Budget was adequate but after seeing the trailer you'll believe it's an absolute anti-climax and a slow burning drama. The first 15 minutes hooked me in but it started to go downhill from there and didn't seem to stop. The ending is dreadful and the only feeling it invoked in me was "I expected more but thank god that's over".

Watch the trailer and run.

The Death of Dick Long was tense and eerie from start to finish. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it that much darker/ironic. You really think you are signing up for one type of movie, and end up with a completely different tale. I will have a hard time forgetting about this one. I'm surprised more people haven't seen this. I would recommend it, but not something I'd go back and watch twice probably. I will need to watch the documentary about the story next. This is an absurd movie. I am at a loss for words. I can't even believe it's based on a true story. What mayhem. I need to go for a walk.

Pretty good movie pound for pound. For such a simple Alabama location I think it was directed pretty well.

This movie plays with you. Throws u an awkward situation in the beginning and then from there on, u try to think for relatable likable characters that they wud do something smart and get out of a bad situation but they all do exactly opposite and things start going weird from there on. This was a very nervous ride for me, watched it while on my working hours so it was adventurous but not as great as that of dick long, who got it mentioned on its death certificate.

There is obviously some talent on the creative end of this movie, but it doesn't rise above the missed opportunities of character development. Thank goodness the unsurprising plot is in no danger of haunting you and won't linger long in my memory. The actors though, I'll be looking for further projects.

This is a very good dark comedy that hinges on dumb decisions and a pervasive all-round ineptitude of almost all of the characters. But this isn't your usual dark comedy, in the sense that this won't elicit lots of laughs. It's a comedy because the characters and situations are pathetically laughable, but that doesn't mean you will find yourself laughing all along. Though the plot is a bit strange, the stellar performances delivered by all of the cast render the whole story as completely believable. I would even go as far as to say that this is so well done that it looks like the characters had no choice but to act as they do. The whole cast does a great job, but special credit must be given to Virginia Newcomb's performance. The shades of perplexity that go through her face when her husband tells her the unthinkable are priceless! I would say that everything in this movie is as good as it should be. No more, no less. Everything is in its place. There's also a very subtle hint of Cohen brothers to some of the awkward moments and some of the shots, which for me is an added bonus.

It's about hillbillies who get up to no good at night and one of them ends up dying. So I thought it would be extremely dark and violent, but the movie is actually a bit light hearted. Earl and Zeke trying to cover their tracks is pretty fun. They seem normal, kind people outside of their personal hobby, and you actually sympathize with them. The acting and direction is very good. The last 30 minutes will seem to drag on forever though, because this small town Alabama police department is slow as fudge.

One part of the directing duo responsible for giving the world gassy corpse dramedy Swiss Army Man, director Daniel Scheinert has established himself as a brand of quirky and oddball in a very quick time and while his newest solo venture as a filmmaker, The Death of Dick Long isn't quite up to the oddities of his previous effort, this pitch black comedy is still very much cut from its own cloth.

Inspired by real events, Long is best watched with as little knowledge as possible heading into it as we follow two of the year's dumbest and most dim-witted characters in the forms of Michael Abbott Jr's Zeke and Andre Hyland's Earl, two band mates and friends that try to cover up and recover from the mysterious death of their friend Dick Long after a night of partying and excess.

Suffice to say that the revelations behind Long's demise and what lead to his untimely death are some of the films best elements, shocking to say the least, but certainly the most tension riddled and well-put together piece of Schneinert's puzzle as he creates a fairly unique southern-tinged red-beck noir.

It's an incredibly bleak venture, not dissimilar to what the Coen Brothers have crafted before with the likes of A Single Man or Barton Fink, even if Scheinert isn't afraid to take his tale into even darker territory than the Coen's ever would but unlike those type of quality offerings, Long suffers badly from a lack of standout acting turns and characters that make us deeply invest in what is taking place before our eyes.

Both Zeke and Earl are highly unlikeable main characters and Abbott Jr and Hyland's lack of charisma or chemistry often stops the film in its tracks, while seemingly intriguing supporting players like Sarah Baker's plodding police officer Dudley or Virginia Newcomb as Zeke's wife Lydia never get a lot to do as the small town community of these figures is thrown into a state of disbelief as the circumstances surrounding Long's death become more apparent.

It's a shame Scheinert wasn't able to establish more of a strong connection with his stories inhabitants as there's moments of a great film scattered throughout the film's runtime but despite its jaw-dropping revelations and why would they do that moments, Long ends up being a film with half-cooked ideas and scenarios that never combine fully into a product of much note.

Final Say -

An unquestionably unique proposition, The Death of Dick Long is an initially intriguing offering that continually loses steam as it moves forward on its odd and challenging journey.

2 ½ lost wallets out of 5