What happens to your consciousness when you die? Do you become an animal, a tree… or someone else?

Here’s a film where instead of trying to guess if the butler did it in the kitchen with the frying pan, you should just sit back, relax, and watch what the director wants you to see.

For a low-budget indie film (roughly $1 million), Every Time I Die manages to deliver a surprisingly layered story with only a few minor plot holes scattered along the way. Nothing that would break the experience — but a couple of moments that could have made a little more sense if the script had been tightened just a bit.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look for the clues — this is a thriller after all — but it’s one that bends your perception of reality, dipping into ideas of consciousness, identity, and regret.

This isn’t your typical “he who kills me pays the price” revenge plot. If you’re expecting a straightforward ghost story — you’re not going to find it here.

Sam (Drew Fonteiro) is our main character… for the time being.

Right from the start, we know something’s off. Sam’s not just your average junkie with issues — there’s something buried deeper beneath the surface.

Then we’re introduced to Mia (Melissa Macedo) — who, if you’re paying attention, you’ll quickly realize is not his girlfriend.

But who is she?

That’s the thing — we don’t know yet. And that’s exactly how this movie wants to play with your head.

As the film moves forward, Sam’s mental state starts to unravel. Blackouts. Hallucinations. A constant sense of disconnection from reality.

He drifts in and out of these dreamlike sequences, staring at himself in the mirror for what feels like forever — something we’ve all done at some point, right?

But with Sam, there’s something broken behind those eyes.

What we know so far:

• Sam’s a paramedic.
• He has a partner named Jay (Marc Menchaca) — the classic “cool older guy” who feels like both his best friend and his mental guardian.
• Jay’s got his own dark history involving suicide and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) — but the film never lays it out completely. It’s something you’re meant to piece together on your own.

One of the most powerful scenes comes during an overdose call where Sam desperately tries to save a patient — long after they’re already gone.

The whole sequence plays like a metaphor for Sam’s entire life — constantly trying to fix something that’s already broken.

His grief, denial, and guilt aren’t just haunting him… they’re consuming him.

The deeper the story goes, the more surreal it becomes.

We learn that Sam’s been on a treatment plan — whether it was his parents’ decision or something forced on him by a lawyer, we don’t really know… and that’s the point.

The film doesn’t spoon-feed you answers — it wants you to feel lost. Just like Sam.

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Spoilers Ahead

Now I’m not going to get really into it because this is for you to want to watch the movie not just read some person talking about it right?

But peep this.

Sam is leaving from Jay’s birthday event at Tyler’s house, (quick recap – Tyler is Mias Girlfriend, Sam’s in love with Mia, Jay is the person who’s birthday it is and Poppy is Jay’s wife/girlfriend not too sure about that)

Moving on, Tyler finds out that Sam’s been doing some business behind Mia’s back (a joke I know its bad relax) And it’s a wild goose chase, when he finds Sam you’ll never know what happens next

Clickbait sorry had to do it,

Doctors hate him

What I will say is — if you’re paying attention — you’ll start to notice that the film isn’t really about life and death.

It’s about identity.

Who we are.
What we leave behind.
And whether or not our consciousness can ever truly be separated from our regrets.

If you’re the type of person who likes movies that explain everything — this isn’t for you.

But if you’re down to sit in the confusion, pick up on the small hints, and let the story unfold naturally — you’ll find yourself hooked.

Would I recommend it?

Hell yeah.

It’s not perfect — but for a small indie film, Every Time I Die punches way above its weight.

Just don’t expect to have all the answers by the end.