Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Deany Bean is Dead’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM. YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

When we think about stories that are focused upon trauma and loss, and the long road to recovery that accompanies those elements, we instantly assume those tales are focused upon characters who are dealing with the death of someone important to them and understandably so. Because losing a loved one to the great beyond shatters us like never before, and knowing that we will never get to spend time with them again and share in the wonder of life alongside them can cause great harm to our psyche, to the point where we spend a long time grieving and healing over their loss. Which in turn makes for powerful and inspirational storytelling, since many of these tales involve people fighting their way back from the tears and the pain. But while those stories are important and poignant in their own right, the death of a loved one, is not the only type of trauma and loss that people experience in life.

Because we lose people in other hurtful ways as well. For example, ending a relationship with a close friend or a lover that we thought would be in our lives forever can rip our souls to shreds. Because these people meant the world to us and just like that they’re out of our lives. Something that can oddly cause greater harm to us emotionally, especially if they were a former lover. For when a relationship ends on uncertain and abrupt terms, that lack of closure, and the knowledge that they are going to move on without us can put us in quite the dark and ugly place. But those stories are the ones that most films and books and shows tend to shy away from. Because seeing the characters come back from those elements requires great intimacy in the writing, the kind that bigger projects don’t often cater to. But there are stories out there that examine this type of loss and recently, this reviewer had the chance to enjoy a movie that takes the time to explore this in a powerful and surprisingly funny manner in Deany Bean is Dead.

Now in this particular tale, we are introduced to a woman name Deanna Locke who is going through quite the rough patch. Which is a shame, because not that long ago, Deany was doing just fine. Bcause she had a fiancé that she deeply loved, and she was happy in the knowledge that she was going to get to come home to a wonderful man, every day, for the rest of her life. But the surprise decision on her fiancé’s part to end their relationship has left her in quite the devastated place. For now, there is no happily ever after on the horizon for her, and work is getting worse since her boss is suddenly insufferable, and for the first time in a long time, there is no hope present within Deany’s eyes. But just when it seems as though nothing is going to change and Deanna is going to be forever surrounded by sorrow, the rash decision she makes one day, to strangle her boss and bury said boss in her fiancé’s backyard, is going to change her life in positive ways that she never thought possible.

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So, as you can see from that plot summary, this is a supremely different kind of inspirational story. Because most tales that involve someone’s attempts to heal from trauma and loss, don’t involve murder. But that kind of plot twist is here for a reason, simply because it gets your attention and motivates the viewer to really understand Deany’s plight. Specifically, the fact that she is someone who has been marginalized at every turn by people that she thought mattered the world to her. And their desire to look down upon her and insult her with impunity has motivated her to internalize her emotions and never deal with them. But that one big moment changes everything for Deany, and just like that she’s free and ready to deal with her pain and get closure on the other parts of her life that need it, and that leads to some powerfully funny and poignant moments when she finds herself inadvertently attending her ex’s engagement party. 

But while that leads to some satisfying scenes where Deany finally sticks it to the people that have pushed her around, what matters more about this story is what it has to say about how we recover from this particular type of loss and trauma, and that’s what makes this story so powerful and uplifting. For in essence, this movie serves to remind us, that sometimes when we lose a love and a life that we thought was perfect, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Because sometimes we fool ourselves into believing what we have is all that we want. But when something this complex and this important, falls apart, it gives us a great opportunity to look at things objectively and ask ourselves if this is indeed what we desire. But while those are important lessons to be found within the framework of this film, none of them compare to the most significant one of all. In that, in order to get what we really want and need in life, we need to be happy with ourselves and know our worth. Which is a beautiful lesson to find within the framework of a dark comedy, one that quite frankly, we don’t see enough of in cinema.

In the end however, this is simply a magnificent film through and through. Because it is bold and daring in how it tells it story, since it takes guts to make murder a catalyst for change for a person in crisis. But this film pulls it off no problem and that’s thanks in large part to Allison Marie Volk’s brilliant screenplay. Because it really does take you for quite a ride and to top it off, this film features some powerful performances. With Allison leading the charge in that arena as well since she plays the quirky and delightful Deanna in an earnest and realistic manner and really, all of these elements make this a motion picture that you need to see. Because there is not a predictable moment to be found here and everything works in this movie and it really does manage to inspire the audience when all is said and done. And you simply cannot go wrong with losing yourself within the framework of a story that asks the viewer to take charge of their life and find the good within it. Just don’t strangle your boss as part of the healing process, because that’s bad.  

'Deany Bean is Dead' is available to stream on Tubi.com.

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