At the intersection of Punch Drunk Love and Office Space lies Sometimes I Think About Dying, a dark comedy about the pains of navigating corporate culture from the point of view of a socially inept millennial. Directed by Rachel Lambert, the film uses subtle humor to show how one woman (Daisy Ridley), stuck at a dead-end job, temporarily escapes the invisible chains of her cubicle by letting her mind wander into absurd territory. Anyone who has ever worked a humdrum 9-5 will be able to relate to the boredom and abandon our protagonist feels, contributing to a reflective yet hilarious watch. Making its World Premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Sometimes I Think About Dying is finally getting its overdue theatrical release on January 26, 2024.

A beautiful harp sequence plays over images of a crisp, foggy morning along the Oregon coast. Idyllic in both soundscape and landscape, it seems like this place is heaven on earth. However, the beauty of the day doesn’t make even a dent into Fran’s (Daisy Ridley) downcast disposition, whose beige cardigan matches her workplace’s beige interior. Given this visual, we can safely assume that it acts as an outward reflection of her beige life. This is not the start of her fairytale morning but rather a continuation of the circumstances of her living hell.

Fran works in a small, nondescript office with nice enough co-workers, yet she stays at arm’s length and remains non-receptive to their puny invitations for small talk. New life is breathed into the office when the friendly new hire, Robert (Dave Merheje), joins the team. He voluntarily initiates contact with Fran, asking her for help with simple tasks like ordering office supplies, and doesn’t give up engaging in conversation despite her lack of enthusiasm towards him. Their connection isn’t instant–far from it, in fact– but over time, Robert begins to peel away Fran’s protective layers and starts to understand who the real Fran is.

This isn’t a traditional love story, but more of a self-love story for the emotionally challenged.

This isn’t a traditional love story, but more of a self-love story for the emotionally challenged. When we first meet Fran, she is working through self-doubt and criticism by envisioning all of the different ways she could die, depicted through vivid daydreams. These surreal montages incorporate risky undertakings, like hanging from machinery and standing toe to toe with a snake. These images–visceral in nature–seem to give Fran a sense of ownership over her autonomy. She may not have control over many aspects of her life but here, in her dreams, she is the boss. The film dips into this psychological aspect but doesn’t linger too long in her psyche. Rather, director Rachel Lambert uses this outlet as a means of expressing Fran’s quirkiness and dissimilarity to her peers.

Sometimes I Think About Dying crafts a tender and affectionate story that hits all of the right notes with conviction. The ensemble cast is made up of mostly lesser-known actors and their mumblecore dialogue delivery is nothing short of authentic. Similar in form to Jury Duty, the ensemble cast all have their own amusing quirks, making the group feel more like an improv team than co-stars. Daisy Ridley gives a stellar performance as the apathetic Fran, teetering on the edge of pity and arrogance with such finesse. Her command over the role is impressive, reminding everyone why she deserves to remain a top-billed star.

“It’s hard, isn’t it? Being a person.” This line of dialogue has stuck with me since viewing the film, and I think it is the perfect summation of the overall tone. Sometimes I Think About Dying is a sweet nod to the outsider. And while it’s not necessarily revolutionary in its execution, it offers a cathartic release for the times when you feel like nothing more than a cog in the corporate machine.

Sometimes I Think About Dying opens on January 26, 2024, at AMC The Grove 14.