Die My Love is a new film set for theatrical release on November 7. Before its wide debut, the film premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d’Or. Co-written by Enda Walsh, Lynne Ramsay, and Alice Birch, and directed by Ramsay, the film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson, LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte, and Sissy Spacek.

The story follows Grace and her partner Jackson, who have recently moved into a remote countryside home. Determined to write the Great American Novel, Grace embraces her new surroundings, and the couple soon welcome their first child. But as Jackson grows increasingly—and suspiciously—absent, the strain of isolation and domestic life begins to take its toll. Grace’s fragile sense of reality starts to fracture, propelling her down a dark and destructive path.

Going into this, I already knew how well-received it was—and it’s no surprise, given the talent involved. When you have a filmmaker like Lynne Ramsay and two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, success feels almost inevitable. I love that, no matter how big Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson become, they continue to embrace indie projects like this—films that not only deserve more recognition but also benefit from their presence. It also says a lot about their artistic ambitions: by collaborating with someone like Ramsay, they’re choosing roles that push their abilities and showcase their range—especially in Lawrence’s case.

Since I received a digital screener, I had the chance to watch the film at home. In many ways, that’s the ideal setup for me—I can jot down my thoughts in real time and spend less time drafting my review afterward. Still, even as I watched, I found it hard to organize my thoughts, because the film constantly subverted my expectations. It’s a rare kind of slow burn—one that keeps you guessing where it’s headed while steadily deepening its exploration of character. Rather than telling the audience how to feel, it invites us to understand why this character is the way she is.

While Jennifer Lawrence has been a major star for most of my life, few performances have impressed me as much as her work in mother!. This film reminded me exactly why that performance resonated so deeply. When Lawrence commits, she gives everything—never letting go. Die My Love simply wouldn’t work without her. Her performance here is easily among my top ten of the year: raw, devastating, and fearless. What she achieves in this role reaffirms her place as one of the greatest actresses working today.

It’s interesting to see Robert Pattinson take on a role that places him more in the passenger seat, especially after so many recent projects where he’s been firmly in control. Few of his performances come to mind where he’s played such a restrained, supporting presence. The fact that he chose to be part of this film says a lot about what he saw in the material. His character is every bit as complex as Lawrence’s—his story may not be the one being told, but you can still feel the emotional weight he carries in every scene.

Over its two-hour runtime, the film commands your full attention. Without Lawrence, I suspect it might have fallen apart; her performance is what anchors the film and gives it heart. Because she’s already such a naturally compelling and empathetic performer, it’s no wonder her work here feels so hypnotic. I went in expecting something more overtly thrilling than dramatic, but I came away with much more to reflect on. In many ways, it feels like the antithesis of Perfect Days—a film intent on helping us understand a person at their most fractured and volatile. As someone who fell in love with the slow-burn genre through films like Burning, I can imagine this one giving new viewers a deeper appreciation for that kind of storytelling the more they sit with it.

I’ve only seen one other film by Lynne Ramsay, You Were Never Really Here, but even with that limited exposure, I can see a clear through line in her work—her ability to capture the human spirit through deeply complex characters. While Lawrence’s character here is profoundly flawed, she’s also intensely relatable. Ramsay’s editing style mirrors the protagonist’s fractured state of mind, allowing us to experience her perspective and understand the motivations behind her actions. The film is also elevated by an incredible score that wrings every ounce of emotion from the story.

That said, I can’t deny that certain flaws stand out. I don’t think the rest of the ensemble is used to its full potential. It’s surprising to see LaKeith Stanfield in such a limited role—one that easily could have gone to a lesser-known actor given the brief screen time. Nick Nolte also feels underutilized, leaving little lasting impact. The visual effects, meanwhile, are noticeably uneven. The green-screen work is distractingly obvious at times, pulling you out of the otherwise grounded atmosphere. In moments, the visuals verge on music video territory—stylized, but not always in a way that serves the story.

Overall, Die My Love is a haunting exploration of a woman consumed by her own mind, anchored by a powerhouse performance from Jennifer Lawrence. It’s hard to imagine anyone else embodying this role so completely—Lawrence once again proves why she’ll be remembered as one of the greats. While the film’s slow-burn pacing and absence of certain narrative elements may leave some viewers wanting more, its emotional intensity is undeniable. In the end, this is a film carried by Lawrence’s phenomenal work—one that deserves serious awards recognition.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 – Pretty Good