Hungarian Haunter Tomorrow I Die (PANIC) Unravels Over Lake Weekend
Title: Tomorrow I Die
First Non-Festival Release: November 7, 2024 (Theatrical Release)
Director: Nikol Cibulya
Writer: Nikol Cibulya
Runtime: 85 Minutes
Starring: Niké Kurta, Márton Kerekes, Emőte Piti
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
This film’s review was written after its screening at the Panic Film Festival in 2025.
Pregnancy has the ability to put the body’s emotions, hormones, and memories in influx, especially as the due date gets closer. In such a vulnerable state, it’s easy to see why pregnancy is cited as one of the most stressful and difficult things someone can undergo.
Feeling anxious about her baby, soon-to-be due, Irma (Niké Kurta) asks her half-brother Marci (Márton Kerekes) and best friend Stefi (Emőte Piti) to her family’s lake house to relax before she gives birth. Stefi’s hippie boyfriend Donát (Dániel Baki) tags along, which adds to Irma’s complicated feelings for her partner Kornél (Zalán Makranczi). It’s not long into the visit when Irma opens up about her paralyzing fear that she will die the next day, which may be linked to unresolved feelings from her past.
Between its meandering story and shaky characters, Tomorrow I Die makes for an uneventful weekend in the woods.
Its central mystery dissipates into nothingness as Tomorrow I Die doesn’t quite know what story it is telling. Irma’s reasons for assembling her friends are initially murky and reveal themselves when the audience learns that she believes she will meet the same fate as her mother. This mixes in with her own guilt for feeling that she is the reason her mother died after childbirth, fueling her own fears of being a parent. These are interesting story points that Tomorrow I Die attempts to parse through but unfortunately gets lost in a forest of its own making. Irma’s erratic behavior drives the plot forward as her friends at the cottage, and the audience, get increasingly confused with her choices. Overwhelmed by the guilt of her mother’s death, the pervasive jealousy she has for her friend, the clear resentment she feels for her boyfriend, and the lack of control she has over her life, it’s understandable that Irma is in a crisis. These crises don’t translate into actionable horror throughout much of Tomorrow I Die.
Interesting characters are wasted on a story that goes nowhere quickly. Irma’s neuroticism drives much of the story forward, but the revelations learned don’t say much about her. What punctuates a tale of grief and fears of repeating generational cycles amount to little when Irma’s story finishes. Her relationship with Stefi is much more interesting despite not getting as much attention. The male characters are oblivious and ridiculous in fun ways that fits strangely into a film dedicated to the complexity of women’s relationships and guilt.
Its approach to horror is one that is often as circuitous and unfocused as its story. Throughout the sleepy supernatural happenings, it’s hard to pinpoint the mechanics behind Tomorrow I Die. Shifting between apparitions, hallucinations, and human conflict, the issue with Tomorrow I Die iisn’t the number of angles it approaches its story but how disorganized and inconsistent it feels. Hiding behind ambiguity, the story lacks a clear direction in how Irma is meant to battle the forces against her. In the end, the horror elements feel like an afterthought and barely damaging, making her descent into madness feel unearned even when the stakes eventually do raise.
Well-filmed, much of the strength of Tomorrow I Die comes from its solid cinematography. Prioritizing striking imagery and atmosphere over story, the indie film hits all the right notes as Irma gradually succumbs to her madness and the supernatural pressures haunting her. The bougie cabin becomes the site of Irma’s turmoil, juxtaposing bittersweet childhood memories with her present terror. It feels lived in yet creepy enough to be a source of genuine anxiety for Irma and the audience as well.
The fears of motherhood tying back to childhood trauma make for familiar yet fine-enough through lines for supernatural horror. Gliding through familiar stories without offering much new, Tomorrow I Die is forced to live and die by its scares, which it ultimately doesn’t have much to boast. Serviceable performances and some good cinematography aside, there isn’t much to this Hungarian ghost story. Fans of slower supernatural horror might enjoy the languid pacing and themes of generational trauma, but otherwise Tomorrow I Die may not be the international release to bet on this year.
Overall Score? 5/10
