Set against a neon-lit, hyperreal New York City, Die in a Gunfight recasts Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet as a defiant romance laced with gunfire, centering on the heirs of two rival media dynasties. The Gibbons and the Rathcarts have loathed one another for decades, and their feud burns just as hot and venomous in this contemporary retelling.
Ben Gibbon, portrayed by Diego Boneta, is a restless, jaded scion of the mighty Gibbon clan. Driven by reckless urges and a yearning heart, he chafes against familial duty while the ghost of a lost love keeps him up at night. That lost love is Mary Rathcart, brought to life by Alexandra Daddario, headstrong daughter of the Rathcart kingpin. Their tender connection was cruelly severed years earlier when Mary was dispatched overseas, a move designed to cool the dangerous spark between them but that only fanned the flames.
Mary returns to New York, and almost the moment she steps off the plane she and Ben slip back into the old rhythm of their love. That spark, however, triggers a violent domino effect packed with lies, double-crosses, and deadly drama neither of them saw coming. Over her shoulder watches Terrence Uberahl, played by Justin Chatwin, her once-faithful bodyguard now fixated to the point of madness. Now working for the ruthless Rathcart clan, he secretly plots to wipe Ben off the board and stake his claim to Mary.
While the two lovers struggle to stay together and dodge their supposedly written destinies, the Rathcarts hire street professionals Wayne (Travis Fimmel) and Barbie (Emmanuelle Chriqui) to wipe out their rivals. Ben’s loyal friend Mukul (Wade Allain-Marcus) hangs around as a sardonic anchor, offering laughs and a dose of sanity amid the exploding mayhem.
The film tells this wild tale in a hyperactive style, spiked by a dry-tongued, all-knowing voice (Billy Crudup) who mocks the action as it unspools. Bright splashy graphics, quick flashbacks, and bursts of onscreen text keep the screen popping and give the whole story a comic-book jolt.
As their families schemes close in, the young couple is swept into violence that threatens their very chance at life. In the films tense last stretch, a brutal confrontation claims several characters; Terrence is among the fallen. Yet Ben and Mary steal a quiet moment, slip into a car, and drive toward an uncertain but wistfully hopeful horizon. Though the title hints at doom, that final scene leans instead on sly romance and open possibility.
🎭 Cast & Crew
Diego Boneta as Ben Gibbon – A reluctant rule-breaker torn between fierce loyalty and self-sabotage.
Alexandra Daddario as Mary Rathcart – Steady poise and raw heart fuel her bid for freedom.
Justin Chatwin as Terrence Uberahl – Starts as guardian but twists into an obsessive, shadowy puppet-master.
Travis Fimmel as Wayne – Off-kilter energy and deadpan jokes mark this unreliable mercenary.
Emmanuelle Chriqui as Barbie – Charm and surprise cut through Waynes stormy chaos.
Wade Allain-Marcus as Mukul – Practical friendship adds rare moments of moral clarity.
Billy Crudup as the Narrator – Wry voice-over skews events with breezy sarcasm and stylistic flair.
Director: Collin Schiffli
Writers: Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari
Cinematographer: Magdalena Górka
Editor: Amanda C. Griffin
Music Composer: Ian Hultquist
Producers: Mark Gordon, Tom Butterfield, Harry White, Adrian Politowski
Production & Background
The script for Die in a Gunfight first appeared on the 2010 Black List, marking it as one of the industrys most sought-after stories that had not yet reached cameras. Early on, names like Zac Efron circled the lead role, but the production moved through several ownership changes before a 2019 shoot finally commenced.
Principal photography unfolded mostly in Toronto, where a compressed schedule and limited budget still produced a flashy cityscape backdrop. Bold lighting, brisk edits, and exaggerated color give the finished work the illusion of a bigger canvas, yet every frame was made under cost restraints. Lionsgate later delivered the film in July 2021 to a small theatrical run and robust video-on-demand release.
Critical Reception
Die in a Gunfight met a lukewarm critical reception upon release. Though a handful of reviewers celebrated its visual flair and offbeat energy, the majority pointed to uneven pacing, a thin story, and superficial emotion as stumbling blocks.
Common critiques included:
The central romance lacked chemistry and emotional resonance.
The excessive stylization distracted from character development.
Die in a Gunfight feels familiar, echoing Romeo and Juliet so closely that it hardly carves its own path.
Although the script cracks a few witty lines, that same sardonic tone frequently keeps the audience at arm’s length.
Still, many fans embraced the films cheeky spirit and comic-book look. They singled out the bright colors, wild action set pieces, and lively turns from supporting players-Fimmel and Chriqui in particular-as highlights of the over-the-top ride.
Themes & Analysis
- Modern-Day Romeo and Juliet
At heart, Die in a Gunfight tells a love story banned by blood feuds and street violence. Swap Verona for Manhattan and swords for handguns, yet the big emotions-family loyalty, betrayal, raw passion-stay locked in place.
- Style Over Substance
The picture leans hard on blaring style-fast cuts, neon graphics, pop-culture quips, and a sardonic narrator. Together they spin a breakneck, eye-popping show, though they often drown the films quieter moments.
- Obsession and Control
Terrence Uberahl represents care that curdles into cage-building. His turn from dutiful protector to frantic stalker shows how passion can wear the mask of devotion until it snaps.
Freedom Through Love
Ben and Mary live under heavy pressure from relatives and the roles their status demands. Meeting again is more than sentimental; it openly defies those rules. In their eyes, choosing each other grants a kind of freedom, even when the price is steep.
Quick Facts
Feature Detail
Release Date July 16, 2021
Runtime 92 minutes
Language English
Genre Romantic Crime / Action Thriller
Director Collin Schiffli
Budget Approx. $4 million
Box Office Around $60,000 (limited theatrical)
Distribution Lionsgate (theatrical and VOD)
Final Thoughts
Die in a Gunfight is a speedy, high-energy mix of romantic yearning and crime-movie tension. It tries to slap a punk-rock attitude on a well-worn love plot, peppering the dialogue with rapid banter and the frames with artful gore.
Yet the picture is more impressive as moving art than as an emotional story. Some viewers will cheer the attitude; others will roll their eyes and claim it worships surface over meaning. Either way, the film delivers a fresh, loud spin on love, loyalty, and revenge in a world where gunfire drowns out sentiment.
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