I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

As Davey Graham enters the lavish ambiance of a high-society gathering, his goal is straightforward: to finalize a deal with the elusive Stella. However, as he leaves the party, he catches the eye of her date, whose quick phone call ignites a chain of malevolent incidents. Awaiting Davey outside are three shadowy figures, including the sly car dealer, Boad, who lie in wait in a sleek black Range Rover. As they pursue him through the streets of London, their patience reaches a breaking point, resulting in a horrifying assault that leaves Davey bruised and defenseless. The assailants drag him into a deserted garage, where Boad exacts a brutal revenge.

By dawn, a disheveled Davey staggers out of the garage, his spirit shattered, seeking solace in a lukewarm bath at home. Hours later, his friend Mickser discovers Davey’s lifeless body submerged in the tub, having suffered a vicious throat slashing.

The shocking news of Davey’s death reverberates through the lives of those close to him, notably Helen, who grapples with her sorrow while worrying about Will, Davey’s estranged brother. Will, having been living off the grid as a forester, bears the signs of a rugged, nomadic life. After losing his job due to his lack of documentation, he contemplates leaving England but is halted by the haunting image of Davey at the ferry terminal. Realizing it’s just a hallucination, he rushes back to London only to be met with the dreadful news of Davey’s passing. This news instills fear within the criminal underbelly, prompting the ruthless crime boss, Frank Turner, to warn Will to lay low and vanish. In contrast, Will’s former associates encourage him to reclaim his previous life, suggesting that Turner is vulnerable and could be overthrown with relative ease. Despite the temptations of his past, Will stands firm in his decision to avoid falling back into old habits. He finds consolation in Helen, expressing regret for having abandoned her and grieving for Davey, who he believes wasted his life just as he did.

As Will investigates the tragic events leading to Davey’s death, he commissions an additional autopsy to discover what drove the young man to such self-destructive behavior. The findings are harrowing: it is revealed that Davey endured a brutal rape the night before he died, compounded by the disheartening knowledge that his body had involuntarily reacted to the assault. The coroner offers a stupefying theory suggesting that the overwhelming shame and psychological trauma from the incident likely drove Davey to take his own life. In search of deeper understanding, Will seeks the guidance of a psychologist who can shed light on the rapist’s mindset and the devastating repercussions on the victim.

Meanwhile, Mickser visits the hostess of the disastrous party where Davey made his last deal. She shares how she observed Davey’s business associate making a phone call just as he left, and she ultimately identifies this mystery individual. Following this lead, Will and Mickser venture to confront Boad at his estate during a dinner gathering, where Will seizes the chance to survey the situation before stealthily making his exit.

In another subplot, Will’s crew plays a prank at Turner’s residence, ensnaring one of his bodyguards in a bra and panties, which ignites Turner’s wrath and leads him to hire a merciless Irish hitman for retribution.

As Will navigates this complex landscape, he unearths a vintage Jaguar in a garage, discovering a suitcase filled with cash, clothes, and a firearm inside. He takes the suitcase and checks into a hotel to tailor his suit and revamp his appearance. Embracing this unexpected new look, Will cleans up the Jaguar and heads toward Boad’s residence, instructing Helen on the way to pack her bags—unbeknownst to him, Turner’s hitman is already lurking outside her home.

Upon reaching Boad’s estate, Will inadvertently sets off an alarm in the garage, drawing the host out into the open. With cold determination, he takes down Boad’s dog and confronts its owner, demanding to know why such a heinous assault was inflicted upon Davey. Boad reveals that he had been meticulously stalking Davey for six long weeks, captivated by what he saw as Davey’s superficial existence. Boad felt compelled to dismantle Davey’s illusion of invulnerability and force him to confront the painful truth of his hollow life. Will, maintaining his composure, assures Boad that he will avenge Davey at a later time, as killing him in that moment would be far too simple. However, as Will prepares to leave, he hesitates before returning to the garage to strike the fatal blow.

Simultaneously, Helen sits expectantly on her staircase, arms crossed and waiting, anticipating Will’s arrival alongside Turner’s formidable hitman. The film’s cryptic conclusion unfolds as Will observes a golfer striking balls into the ocean, eerily echoing the same shot and voiceover that marked the story’s beginning. Reflecting on the fleeting nature of life, Will acknowledges that most thoughts are mere echoes of memories, leaving behind only the lingering reminders of those who have departed. With a heavy heart, he slips behind the wheel of his car and drives away, as the screen fades to black.

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 at 10:51