A review by jazhandz
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Alonso Duralde, a film critic I admire deeply, says that debut filmmakers all tend to have the same problem: they don’t know if they’ll get another one, so they throw every single idea they have into that first movie. Julie Chan is Dead suffers from this problem and from a terminal lack of subtlety. I liked it but I would have absolutely liked it more with a defter hand.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Infertility, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide, Dementia