Just Play Dead

Adapted from screenwriter Dan Gordon’s novel of the same name, Just Play Dead sees Samuel L Jackson star as ultra-wealthy and cold-hearted criminal Jack Wolfe. With it only a matter of time until the authorities discover his fraudulent accounts, he hatches a devious scheme with his wife, Nora (Eva Green), to fake his death and take the insurance money. However, Nora is tired of feeling trapped by her husband and would rather keep the payout for herself. She devises her own plans to kill him, using a local cop (Eoin Macken) and her latest lover, a much younger surfer called Chad (Jason Fernández), as unwitting pawns. Despite a charismatic turn from Jackson, this deadly cat-and-mouse affair from Casino Royale director Martin Campbell isn’t funny enough to work as a comedy and is too convoluted to generate satisfying thrills.

Jackson feels right at home as Wolfe. The film is at its best whenever the veteran star delivers playful monologues explaining his plans. The dialogue isn’t as sharp or as memorable as the likes of Pulp Fiction or The Hateful Eight, but Jackson’s unmatched charm is enough to carry these scenes. Green, too, gives a commendable performance as the femme fatale, though she isn’t given as much to work with. Exchanges between the pair subsequently feel like Green is going through the motions, which dampens what should have been an engaging dynamic.

Less compelling is Fernández as a dim-witted surfer with an inconsistent accent. This character serves as the butt of many jokes where the punchlines don’t quite land. As he becomes more involved with the couple’s game of outsmarting each other, the question becomes who will ultimately betray the other. The main issue is that the script mistakes each new layer of deceit as being enough to qualify as compelling storytelling. Without the support of interesting character motivations or unexpected twists, the plot becomes a series of shallow story beats that culminate in final revelations that feel completely unearned.

Just Play Dead is slickly shot, and Jackson doesn’t disappoint in the starring role. However, this feature feels like it’s trying to imitate smarter and more stylish crime films without fully grasping what makes the genre work.

Andrew Murray

Just Play Dead is released for home viewing on 5^th October 2026.

Watch the trailer for Just Play Dead here: