Review: Jennifer Lawrence delivers fiery performance in cataclysmic ‘Die My Love’

Review: Jennifer Lawrence Delivers Fiery Performance in Cataclysmic 'Die My Love'

Jennifer Lawrence captivates as a woman unraveling under the weight of postpartum depression. In Lynne Ramsay’s dark comedy-drama, Grace, an author suffering from writer’s block, exhibits erratic and unsettling moods that deepen throughout the film.

Character Dynamics and Setting

Pam (Sissy Spacek), who is about to become Grace’s mother-in-law, recognizes the symptoms of the baby blues and tries to reassure Grace. However, even Pam can't fully grasp the intense emotional turmoil Grace faces as she and her hard-drinking boyfriend Jackson (Robert Pattinson) move into a dilapidated rural house with their newborn. The home, haunted by Jackson’s uncle’s suicide and surrounded by buzzing flies and a noisy puppy Jackson brings home, becomes a purgatory-like space that destabilizes Grace’s mental state.

Grace’s Psychological Journey

Grace exhibits bizarre behavior, such as crawling like a cat and brandishing sharp kitchen tools.
She fantasizes about a captivating neighbor on a motorcycle, played by LaKeith Stanfield.
The film explores Grace’s fragile psyche amid postpartum depression, capturing her descent into chaos.

Context and Themes

Portraying women nearing nervous breakdowns is a familiar theme in cinema, yet this film offers a unique and intense portrayal of postpartum depression’s devastating effects.

“Pam, soon to become Grace’s mother-in-law, tells her that everybody in her position goes loopy.”

“It might be real, and it might not. Either way, it sets her on a precarious path toward some bizarre behavior.”

Author’s summary: Jennifer Lawrence delivers a haunting and raw portrayal of postpartum depression, immersing viewers in a disturbing and surreal emotional journey.

The Mercury News — 2025-11-05