A movie that pokes fun at suicide pretty much defines the term “dark comedy”, and while I’m sure there are those who might still call it unfunny and inappropriate, I have to wonder if Little Miss Sunshine helped opened the doors for the upcoming movie Wristcutters. Steve Carell’s character in that film was a gay scholar who had attempted suicide, but Wristcutters: A Love Story takes things a step further, focusing on the story of a group of young adults stuck in purgatory after they kill themselves.

The movie is directed by Croatian filmmaker Goran Dukic, based on a short story by Israeli writer Etgar Keret, and stars Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), Shannyn Sossamon (Rules of Attraction) and… wait for it… Tom Waits! The teaser trailer makes it look quite bizarre, but North American distributors AfterDark Films and Lionsgate are hoping their rather unorthodox marketing scheme will get people’s attention. Next month they will start putting up cardboard cutouts that show characters “jumping off a bridge, electrocuting and hanging themselves”. I’m guessing there will be more than a few people unhappy with that approach, but perhaps the publicity will help this movie find its audience. Wristcutters hits select theatres this August; for more info visit www.wristcutters.com.

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