Films that use a wide swath of genres to bolster their stories often result in some very creative tales that one genre wouldn’t have afforded. In the case of Bury Me When I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, the psychological thriller movie expertly demonstrates the type of story a multi-genre narrative can craft. At first, the film’s premise is simple: a young man named Henry and his wife, Catherine, are forced to reckon with her recent brain cancer diagnosis. The pair leave the city for a remote location in New Hampshire, where she asks to be buried as her dying wish.

This first half of the movie feels like a slow-burn drama, laced with sadness regarding Catherine’s condition. That is, until she does die, and Henry doesn’t follow through with his promise. What originally seemed like a grounded, deliberately-paced narrative about death and loss slowly morphs into something more sinister. Elements of psychological horror and tense moments of supernatural terror become prominent in the movie, as it seems Catherine is seeking vengeance on her husband from beyond the grave. What follows is an unsettling, slow spiral that remained burned into my memory long after the movie was over.

Bury Me When I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Progresses Seamlessly Across Various Genres

The Movie Never Feels The Same For Too Long

One of the best attributes of Bury Me When I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ is how easily it changes throughout as new aspects of the story are unraveled. At first, the more grounded elements are the central focus of the story. Although there’s an underlying layer of darkness to the film, largely thanks to Devon Terrell and Charlotte Hope’s realistic performances, it doesn’t feel like the movie is going to become something entirely different. That false sense of where the story is going adds layers to its leads, offering a slow burn that feels necessary before the more wild events unfold.

But even when the movie starts to seed its horrors into the story, it progresses in a careful manner that doesn’t spoil all its surprises right away. There’s a mystique to the presentation that’s elevated by how the story progresses, making it unclear if anything supernatural is really going on. That question of whether Bury Me When I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ is really a supernatural horror movie or not makes for deeper characterization as well. Terrell’s Henry becomes the centerpiece to this, with the exact nature of what he’s experiencing — whether ghostly revenge or grounded trauma — fascinating to witness.

It’s helped by other complexities in the narrative that make the story more than an average psychological thriller. The addition of Makenzie Leigh’s Rebecca was a necessity, as she helps ground the movie’s events and gives someone else for Henry to lean on. Their chemistry in particular is a highlight, especially apparent when more layers to the story are peeled back. Because of its lead actors, the story and its many mysterious attributes feel so much more engaging, allowing the film to prosper in other areas as well.

Bury Me When I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ’s Stunning Cinematography Makes For Some Chillingly Memorable Moments

The Style Adds To The Substance

But what really makes this thrilling genre-bender stand out is how much it uses style to add substance to the narrative. Within the opening credits alone, the movie beckons for attention, adding new elements to grab said attention as events unfold. Even in the slower, more grounded sequences that make up the movie’s first half, there’s a deliberate gloom to the presentation, elevated by the isolated area in which it transpires. This continues in some of the more somber parts, regardless of setting, making the cinematography a consistent reminder of the story’s evolution.

It’s especially the case once wilder events unfold, particularly those hinting at paranormal ideas being thrust into the narrative. There’s one sequence around an hour in that’s the best of the movie, layering Henry’s grounded decisions with his guilt, fears, and potential haunting from beyond. By embracing all these elements at the same time, the film offers up a type of experience that wouldn’t have been as memorable without it. This stellar approach to the visuals exhibits a metaphor for its genre-bending onscreen, while also making its constant changes all the more engaging.

Because of its strong performances, memorable visuals, and willingness to embrace a multifaceted story, Bury Me When I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ is another incredible addition to the many amazing horror movies 2025 has had to offer. Thanks to its careful pacing and the way its presentation evolves with the story, it always feels like it has something new to offer every few minutes. With constant changes that still feel consistent and a dread that keeps growing with every minute, this psychological thriller is a perfect encapsulation of how well multiple genres can weave into each other.

Bury Me When I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ arrives on digital and VOD Friday, July 18.