Watch Wristcutters: A Love Story

Wristcutters: A Love Story is a 2006 dark comedy film directed by Goran Dukić. The movie is set in a desolate afterlife and follows Zia (Patrick Fugit), a young man who has committed suicide, and his journey in this new world. As he journeys through purgatory, he meets a colorful cast of characters who have all taken their own lives, including Eugene (Shea Whigham), a Russian musician, and Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon), a free-spirited hitchhiker.

The film opens with Zia in his dingy apartment alone, playing his guitar and feeling hopeless. After he realizes that his ex-girlfriend Desiree (Leslie Bibb) has moved on, he decides to kill himself. Shortly after, he wakes up in a world that looks almost exactly like the one he left, but with small differences, such as the sky is always grey and the cars never start.

Zia soon discovers that he has landed in a place exclusively for people who have committed suicide. Everyone in this world has a permanent scar on their wrist from where they have cut themselves. From the place where he landed, he begins a road trip in search of Desiree after learning she had also taken her life.

Along the way, he picks up Eugene, a Russian musician who speaks almost no English and had committed suicide after his girlfriend accidentally hit her head and died while they were arguing. His goal is to find the people who have inspired him to play his music.

Their journey becomes more adventurous when they meet Mikal, a free-spirited hitchhiker who claims she is not supposed to be in this world. As they travel together, they discover that small miracles can occur even in the afterlife. They all go through something that'll make you smile and gulp in the end.

The tone of the movie is darkly comedic but ultimately hopeful. Despite the bleak setting, the film is full of quirky humor and charm. For example, in this world, cigarettes just taste like rotten eggs and you are not able to smile. Additionally, there are small moments of normalcy in the film's atmosphere which adds to the mundanity of the world.

Another aspect of the film that adds to its unique charm is its soundtrack. Indie rock bands like Gogol Bordello have contributed to the musical score. In addition, Tom Waits's rendition of "In the Neighborhood" is used throughout the film to great effect.

Overall, Wristcutters: A Love Story is a quirky and charming film that explores the emotions and consequences of suicide in an enjoyable and meaningful way. It depicts a world that is easy to become lost in, where everyday objects have new meanings, and small triumphs hold great value. The film can be seen as a metaphor for what it means to come to grips with the decision to commit suicide and the journey to finding true love. This is a movie that deserves recognition as an underrated gem of independent cinema.

Wristcutters: A Love Story is a 2006 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 62.