Uncovering Curiosities: Sean Brosnan’s MY FATHER DIE

Sean Brosnan’s My Father Die is a dark and violent swampy noir which isn’t for the easily offended. Brosnan pulls no punches here, delivering a tale filled with sex and violence. Many people have tried to recreate the 1970s exploitation tone over the last decade or so, but Brosnan manages to recapture it without his film coming across as a pastiche.

Joe Anderson is Asher, a deaf-mute seeking revenge on his father Ivan (Gary Stretch) who has just been released from prison. Years before Ivan beat Asher so brutally that he lost his hearing and he also killed Asher’s brother in the same attack. The body count rises following Ivan’s release and soon John Schneider’s detective is trying to put the pieces together as Asher and Ivan tumble towards a final showdown.

My Father Die is graphic from the off-set, but there are moments of great beauty interspersed through the carnage. Marc Shap’s cinematography captures some stirring visuals, which are well matched to the strong score from Ohad Benchetrit and Justin Small. This might be a small film, but it impresses on a technical level. The thriller is actor Sean Brosnan’s feature debut as a writer and director, but he handles everything with a deft touch. Brosnan, the son of Pierce Brosnan (who also produces), shows a knack with actors too, teasing out some good performances from his cast. Anderson is particularly good in a difficult role and Gary Stretch’s Ivan is a serious beast of anger and hatred.

A violent tale of revenge, My Father Die is an aggressive piece of cinema. It might make for uncomfortable viewing at times but it’s unflinching look is a testament to Sean Brosnan’s vision as a writer-director. My Father Die a brutally poetic film which comes recommended – but with the caveat that it’s not for the faint-hearted!