If you’ve spent any time lurking in the darker corners of indie cinema or scrolling through obscure Letterboxd lists, you’ve probably stumbled across the title. Fall Is a Good Time to Die. It’s a heavy name. It’s the kind of title that makes you pause because it feels like a dare. Honestly, most people go into this movie expecting a typical, moody "sad girl" autumn aesthetic, but what they get is a jagged, low-budget investigation into grief that feels uncomfortably real.
Movies like this don't usually get the massive Hollywood treatment. They exist in the spaces between genres. Is it a thriller? Sorta. Is it a drama? Mostly. It’s one of those projects that proves you don’t need a $100 million budget to make someone feel like their heart is being squeezed by a cold hand.
What is Fall Is a Good Time to Die actually about?
Let's get the facts straight. This isn't a blockbuster. Directed by Boris Schaarschmidt, this 2018 film (often associated with its festival run and subsequent digital release) centers on a woman named Sarah. She’s returning to her hometown. That’s a trope we’ve seen a thousand times, right? The "returning home to face the past" bit. But here, the catalyst is her father’s impending death and the tangled web of a family that’s been broken for a long time.
It’s bleak.
The cinematography captures that specific, gray-skied late autumn vibe where everything looks like it’s waiting to rot. The movie doesn't lean on jump scares. It leans on the silence between people who haven't spoken in years. Sarah has to navigate her brother’s resentment and her father’s fading lucidity, all while a local mystery regarding a missing person starts to bleed into her own reality.
The cast and the "Indie" feel
The film stars Leila Birch as Sarah. You might recognize her voice—she’s actually the voice of D.Va’s MEKA in Overwatch, which is a wild bit of trivia if you’re a gamer. Her performance here is the polar opposite of a high-energy video game character. She’s muted. She’s tired. She plays Sarah with this "walking on eggshells" energy that anyone who has dealt with family trauma will recognize instantly.
Supporting her is Michael Shamus Wiles. If his face looks familiar, it’s because he’s one of those "that guy" actors who has been in everything from Breaking Bad to Fight Club. He brings a weathered, authentic weight to the screen. The chemistry—or lack thereof—between the family members is what makes the movie stick. It’s not "movie fighting." It’s that quiet, passive-aggressive bitterness that feels like a real Sunday dinner gone wrong.
Why the title Fall Is a Good Time to Die hits different
The title isn’t just about the season. It’s a metaphor for the cycle of life, sure, but it’s also a literal reference to the timing of the events. There’s a specific melancholy to autumn. The leaves are dying, but they’re beautiful while they do it.
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The film plays with this contrast.
It asks a hard question: Is there ever a "good" time to go? The script suggests that when things are already winding down—when the harvest is over and the cold is setting in—death feels more like a natural conclusion than a tragic interruption. It’s a grim outlook, but the movie leans into it with both feet.
Breaking down the plot mechanics
Sarah finds out her father is terminal. She goes back to a house that feels more like a mausoleum than a home. Her brother, played by Abraham Benrubi (who you’ve definitely seen in ER or as Larry Kubiac in Parker Lewis Can't Lose), is the anchor of the domestic conflict.
While the family drama unfolds, there's this B-plot involving a girl who disappeared years ago. This is where the movie gets its "mystery" tag. However, if you're looking for a Knives Out style whodunnit, you’re going to be disappointed. The mystery is a catalyst for Sarah’s internal breakdown. It’s a reflection of the secrets her own family has buried.
The technical side: Low budget, high atmosphere
Schaarschmidt and his team clearly worked with limited resources. You can tell. Some of the lighting is harsh, and the pacing is... let's call it "deliberate." It’s a slow burn. If you have the attention span of a goldfish, you’ll probably turn it off in twenty minutes.
But if you like atmosphere? It’s a masterclass in using what you have.
The sound design is particularly oppressive. The wind howling through bare branches, the creak of floorboards—it creates an immersive sense of isolation. You feel as trapped as Sarah does. The film was shot in Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest landscape does a lot of the heavy lifting. It’s beautiful, but in a way that feels lonely.
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Reception and where it stands now
Fall Is a Good Time to Die didn't set the box office on fire. It didn't win ten Oscars. It’s a small film that found its audience on streaming platforms and at smaller festivals like the Orlando Film Festival and the SoHo International Film Festival.
Critics generally praised the performances but were split on the ending. Some found the resolution of the mystery a bit too convenient, while others felt it perfectly underscored the futility of trying to fix the past. It’s a "vibe" movie. People who love Manchester by the Sea or Winter’s Bone usually find something to appreciate here.
Common misconceptions about the film
One big mistake people make is thinking this is a horror movie. It isn't. Despite the title and the somewhat eerie trailer, there are no ghosts. There are no slashers in the woods. The "horror" is entirely psychological and emotional. It’s the horror of realizing you don't know your parents. It’s the horror of time running out.
Another misconception? That it’s a "pro-death" movie because of the provocative title.
Actually, it's the opposite.
By exploring the end of a life, it forces the characters—and the audience—to look at what they’re doing with the time they have left. It’s a memento mori in cinematic form.
Why you should (or shouldn't) watch it tonight
If you’re in a headspace where you want something light and fun, stay far away. Go watch a Marvel movie.
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But if it’s a rainy Tuesday and you’re feeling reflective? If you want a story that respects the complexity of human grief? This is a solid pick. It’s a movie that rewards patience.
It’s also a great example of how indie filmmakers can tackle massive, universal themes without a studio breathing down their necks. You get the sense that Schaarschmidt made exactly the movie he wanted to make. It’s raw, it’s unpolished, and it’s unapologetically sad.
Actionable steps for fans of the genre
If Fall Is a Good Time to Die resonates with you, there are a few things you can do to dive deeper into this specific niche of "Atmospheric Autumnal Noir":
- Track down the director’s other work. Boris Schaarschmidt has a background in cinematography and short films. Looking at his earlier shorts, like Losing Control, helps you see the evolution of his visual style.
- Follow the cast on social media. Actors like Leila Birch and Michael Shamus Wiles are often involved in other interesting indie projects that don't get mainstream marketing.
- Explore the Oregon indie film scene. This movie is part of a larger movement of Pacific Northwest filmmaking that uses the region's unique geography to tell somber, grounded stories. Check out the "Oregon Made" creative suite to find similar titles.
- Compare it to "The Shivering Truth." Not the show, but the concept. Look for films that use seasonal shifts as a narrative device. Autumn Sonata (Ingmar Bergman) is a great historical companion piece to this film if you want to see how the "return home" trope has been handled by the masters.
The film is currently available on various VOD platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV, depending on your region. It’s worth the rental fee if you want something that will stay in your head long after the credits roll. Just make sure you have some tissues nearby—and maybe call your parents afterward.
To get the most out of the experience, watch it in a dark room with zero distractions. The subtle sound cues and the nuanced facial expressions of the lead actors are easy to miss if you're scrolling on your phone. This is "active listening" for cinema.
Ultimately, Fall Is a Good Time to Die serves as a reminder that indie film is the lifeblood of the industry. It’s where the risky, uncomfortable stories live. It’s where a title can be a poem and a movie can be a meditation.
Next Steps for Discovery:
Check your local library’s digital catalog through apps like Hoopla or Kanopy; indie films like this are frequently available for free there. If you're a film student, pay close attention to the use of "negative space" in the framing of the house interiors—it's a cheap but effective way to signal emotional distance between characters. Finally, if you enjoyed the score, look up the composer's credits to find more minimalist, ambient soundtracks that fit this specific "fall" mood.