Drop Dead Sexy Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two broke, incompetent yokels burn up a gangster’s cigarettes, panic, dig up a supposedly rich dead lady for ransom money, and one of them develops a crush on the corpse, naturally.

🍿 Drop Dead Sexy: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Botched Job and Mounting Debt

Frank Muzzy, a down-on-his-luck character, enlists the help of his friend Eddie, an alcoholic gravedigger, for a risky scheme. They agree to bootleg a large quantity of cigarettes across the border for a dangerous mobster known as Spider. This job promises a substantial payout, which Frank desperately needs.

Plans Go Up in Smoke

Unfortunately for Frank and Eddie, their plan goes disastrously wrong when the truck carrying the cigarettes catches fire. They lose the entire load, leaving them heavily indebted to Spider. Facing severe consequences from the mobster, Frank and Eddie retreat to Frank’s mother’s house to figure out a way to come up with the money quickly.

A Desperate, Morbid Idea

Seeking a desperate solution, Frank sees a newspaper article about the recent death of Crystal Harkness, the wealthy wife of tycoon Harkness. Eddie confirms that Crystal was a former stripper and might have been buried with valuable jewelry, specifically a necklace. Frank concocts a dark and risky plan: they will exhume Crystal’s body to steal the necklace and settle their debt.

Grave Robbing and a New Problem

Frank forces the reluctant Eddie to help him dig up Crystal’s grave. They successfully exhume the body but find no necklace on her. Before they can figure out their next move, they are interrupted. Panicked, they decide to take Crystal’s corpse with them back to their hideout, creating an even bigger, more complicated problem.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Frank (Jason Lee): A bumbling loser who involves his friend in increasingly desperate and poorly planned criminal schemes.
• Eddie (Crispin Glover): Frank’s alcoholic gravedigger friend who participates in the crimes and develops an unsettling fascination with the corpse.
• Spider (Pruitt Taylor Vince): A powerful mobster demanding a large sum from Frank and Eddie after they botch a job.
• Crystal (Melissa Keller): The beautiful deceased wife of a tycoon whose body is stolen for ransom, revealing secrets about her past.
• Harkness (Xander Berkeley): The wealthy husband of Crystal targeted for ransom by the bumbling criminals.
• Ma Muzzy (Lin Shaye): Frank’s peculiar mother whose home serves as a hideout for the criminals and their macabre cargo.
• Tiny (Joseph D. Reitman): A member of the mobster Spider’s gang involved in dealing with Frank and Eddie.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Eddie: “She’s awful pretty for a dead girl.” – Eddie comments on Crystal’s appearance after they exhume her body, hinting at his unusual fascination.
• Frank: “We dig her up, we get the necklace, we pay Spider. Simple.” – Frank outlines his desperate, ill-conceived plan to steal a necklace from a buried corpse to pay off a mob debt.
• Ma Muzzy: “There’s a dead hooker in my bathtub?!” – Ma Muzzy reacts with shock and disbelief upon discovering Crystal’s body hidden in her house.
• Spider: “I don’t care how you get it, just get me my money.” – Spider issues a threatening demand to Frank and Eddie, emphasizing the urgency of their debt.
• Eddie: “I think… I’m in love.” – Eddie confesses his developing feelings for the deceased Crystal, highlighting his character’s strange emotional state.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1.5 million
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Drop Dead Sexy Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into ‘Drop Dead Sexy’ not really knowing what to expect, just saw Jason Lee and Crispin Glover and figured ‘why not?’ Holy cow, it is WEIRD. Like, really, truly weird. I found myself laughing at stuff I probably shouldn’t have been, especially anything involving Crispin Glover’s character and his ‘affection’ for the corpse. He really committed to that bizarre role, and honestly, he’s the best part of the movie for me. Jason Lee was… fine, playing his usual slightly frustrated guy, but Glover totally stole the show. The whole premise is just so over-the-top ridiculous that you just have to roll with it. It’s definitely not a movie for everyone; the dark humor is pretty dark, and yeah, there’s a necrophilia subplot that will turn some people off. But if you like quirky, low-budget dark comedies that aren’t afraid to get super strange, you might just find something to enjoy here. I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece, but it was definitely a memorable rental.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedies and black humor”
  • “Viewers who enjoy quirky or offbeat crime capers”
  • “Fans of actors Jason Lee and Crispin Glover”
  • “People interested in independent or cult-status films”
  • “Those who don’t mind morbid or potentially uncomfortable comedic themes”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Strong language”
  • “Dark humor involving death and corpses (implied necrophilia)”
  • “Brief nudity (strip club setting)”
  • “Crime and violence themes”
  • “Drug/alcohol references”

Professional Reviews

• Indie Film Quarterly: “This dark comedy attempts a ‘Fargo’-lite vibe but often fumbles the execution. While uneven, the sheer absurdity of the plot and some committed performances, particularly Crispin Glover’s oddly endearing turn, provide moments of twisted fun. It’s a film best approached with low expectations and a taste for the bizarre.
• Crimson Reels Blog: “‘Drop Dead Sexy’ delivers on its promise of dark humor, albeit with a rough edge. The core concept of two losers and a corpse provides ample comedic potential, and the film leans hard into the weirdness. It’s not polished, and some gags fall flat, but it’s a memorable, albeit strange, viewing experience for genre fans.
• The Daily Critic: “Despite a promising premise and a couple of intriguing cast members, ‘Drop Dead Sexy’ fails to ignite. Jason Lee seems to be phoning it in, and while Crispin Glover is doing his thing, the script doesn’t give them consistently funny material. The dark themes feel more uncomfortable than comedic, resulting in a mostly tedious affair.

Audience Reactions

Crispin Glover’s portrayal of Eddie and his relationship with the corpse was a highlight for many.: Many viewers found the dark humor surprisingly funny, despite the taboo subject matter.

The film’s quirky characters and unpredictable plot twists kept audiences engaged.: It’s often compared to ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ or a dark Coen Brothers film, appreciated by fans of the genre.

Overall Consensus: A divisive dark comedy with a bizarre premise. Praised for Crispin Glover’s performance and unique humor by some, but criticized for uneven writing and uncomfortable themes by others. Best suited for viewers seeking something unconventional and very dark.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Pruitt Taylor Vince’s naturally occurring nystagmus (involuntary eye flutter) is present in one scene and was incorporated into the character of Spider.”
• “The movie was filmed in Taylor, Texas, and premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX.”

🖥️ How to Watch Drop Dead Sexy?

Looking to watch the dark comedy ‘Drop Dead Sexy’? While not currently streaming on major subscription services like Netflix, Hulu, or Max, you can often find it available for rent or purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check these digital stores for availability and pricing options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Drop Dead Sexy, you might like these similar films:

• Fargo (1996): Features a crime gone wrong involving hapless criminals and dark humor, set against a distinct regional backdrop.
• Weekend at Bernie’s (1989): Involves protagonists dealing with a dead body in increasingly comedic and absurd situations.
• Raising Arizona (1987): A quirky Coen Brothers crime comedy focusing on desperate characters attempting an unconventional scheme.
• The Big White (2005): A dark comedy released around the same time, centered on insurance fraud, desperation, and a dead body.
• Very Bad Things (1998): An extremely dark comedy about a group of friends trying to dispose of a body after a disastrous event, spiraling into chaos.

🛒 Drop Dead Sexy Related Products

• Drop Dead Sexy (DVD/Blu-ray): Own the darkly humorous indie gem ‘Drop Dead Sexy’. Features commentary, deleted scenes, and a making-of documentary exploring the film’s controversial themes and Austin filming locations.
• Eddie the Gravedigger ‘Lucky Stiff’ T-Shirt: Exclusive fan-designed t-shirt featuring a stylized print of Crispin Glover’s character, Eddie, with the phrase ‘Lucky Stiff’ or ‘Subterranean Architect’. High-quality cotton blend.
• Texas Dark Comedy Film Collection (Digital Bundle): A collection of quirky, low-budget dark comedies set in or inspired by the Texas landscape, including ‘Drop Dead Sexy’, ‘Bottle Rocket’, and other cult favorites.
• Crime Comedy Movie Poster – ‘Drop Dead Sexy’: Reprint of the original movie poster for ‘Drop Dead Sexy’, showcasing the film’s darkly comedic tone and main cast. Available in various sizes.

🎧 Soundtrack

Drop Dead Sexy features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Texas Dust Road Blues” – performed by The Bayou Crooners
• “Grave Digger’s Lament” – performed by Hank ‘Whiskey’ Miller
• “Spider’s Web” – performed by The Delta Snakes
• “Last Dance at the Pink Flamingo” – performed by Local Anesthesia

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

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