DEAD MAIL emerges as a compelling analogue thriller that intricately weaves themes of loneliness at the intersection of technology and human connection. Set in a retro American Midwest on the cusp of the digital age, the film follows an investigation sparked by a jarring cry for help found on a blood-stained scrap of mail.

The film’s deliberate use of ‘dead’ technology —such as faxes, landlines, letters, and polaroids — imbues its narrative with a textured richness, evoking the atmosphere of a Murder, She Wrote episode if it was directed by the Coen Brothers. Every element, from ingenious casting and classic detective plot to synth sound design and impressively accurate 80s visual aesthetics, reflects an incredible attention to detail that’s enthralling to experience in a theatre.

DEAD MAIL stands as both an exploration of human connection and a masterclass in cinematic recreation of a bygone era, capturing the complexities of relationships in a rapidly changing world.