In a secluded cabin retreat, a married couple plans to repair their broken relationship in Over Your Dead Body (2026). But both partners hold the same plan and are secretly plotting to murder each other.
Directed by Jorma Taccone with a screenplay by Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney – a comedy sketch duo better known as ‘BriTANick’; this story is based on Norwegian comedy, The Trip (I Onde Dager) (2021) directed by Tommy Wirkola.
Aspiring actress, Lisa (Samara Weaving) and struggling film director, Dan (Jason Segal) can clearly squabble from night into the morning. Unfortunately, there’s many reasons why they resent each other – from Lisa’s infidelity to Dan’s heavy financial debt for supporting Lisa’s unsuccessful career – and their lack of emotion and romance.
Over Your Dead Body: Drawing in Star Appeal
Unbeknownst to them, along to spoil their plans is a trio of bumbling intruders and freshly escaped murderous convicts – led by Timothy Olyphant’s Pete – Todd (Keith Jardine) and the prison guard who released them – Pete’s girlfriend Allegra (Juliette Lewis) joins forces in the attic to spy on the couple.
Thwarted in their own plans, Lisa and Dan must team up to fight off these chaotic bandits. Or as they’re better known in this film as Hermione and Ron – beloved characters from Harry Potter – given nicknames by the intruders.
A fight sequence of carnage and mayhem between Lisa and Dan against the immensely powerful Todd is a highlight. Constant back-and-forth violence serves as a reminder that this is not a family-friendly film at all. Todd’s like The Terminator – always lurking, tough-as-nails, and has more lives than Michael Myers. It’s slapstick comedy meets gruesome body horror.
Its Third Act brings in its biggest draw with action scenes, blood-spatter, and screams to fill the sequences. Keeping its audience on their toes – the story plays with time through flashbacks and flashforwards. Instinctively cutting at the most tensional moments. There’s some inventive use of weapons too from a trophy and a pitchfork to even a lawnmower.
Twisty, Blood-Soaked Arguments
Through the fast-paced action, there’s also a nice sentimental moment between Lisa and Dan. This heartfelt scene makes it seem that their relationship could actually work – and they believe it too. It makes them pause, reflect, and welcome a more emotional side to their escaping antics. Despite in the middle of trying to keep alive – love is still in the air and it’s courageous to witness.
Weaving’s portrayal of Lisa draws comparisons to her iconic role as the fiercely determined and resourceful, Sam in horror franchise, Ready Or Not (2019). This remake serves on its star appeal but not so much in its story. One minute it’s trying to draw in the laughs and the next it’s bringing the action scenes with some gory blood-filled moments.
Even though, Over Your Dead Body has an off-beat tone, it doesn’t fully utilise the very talented cast. Olyphant’s role as Pete also feels like his character of Joel in horror-comedy series, Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019).
But this was not quite the peaceful retreat everyone originally thought the couple were planning. Although an odd way to work out their troubles, after all the turmoil it served as couples therapy for them.
In Over Your Dead Body, it just goes to show, reconnecting and rekindling romance can happen in many ways.
Over Your Dead Body is available to stream on Prime Video now.
Rating: 3 Stars
You can read more reviews like this including The Sheep Detectives (2026) here.