Just One Last Thing

Etta (Georgina Gillespie) has landed a job unlike any other, overseeing a halfway house for the recently departed. One by one, the newly deceased knock on her door, and after greeting them with a cup of tea and a biscuit, she then asks if there was "just one last thing" they wanted to do before they "went upstairs".

For one, it's swimming with whale sharks; for another, it's climbing Machu Picchu; for yet another, writing a novel. A whole carousel of vibrant characters ends up stepping through Etta's door, young and old, rich and modest, happy and less so, with Etta hosting all at her "special house" until they are ready to cross over.

That is until an unexpected knock on the door reveals her university friend Olivia (Banner). She's not on the list, so what is she doing here? Etta's boss wants her out. Having someone unexpected in the house is against the rules. But it soon becomes clear that Olivia needs help just like all the others, and her one last thing, it turns out, is justice for her murder.

As far as debuts go, writer/director Alexandra Gillespie pretty much knocks it out of the park on the first try. The film starts and continues through the early stages as a surprisingly light-hearted and engaging affair, despite its slightly morose premise, and while some things do become obvious before their reveal, the slow revealing of the truth of the house is still fun to discover. Yet when it does traverse deeper into the terrible atrocities surrounding Olivia's assault and death (the film is very upfront with the appropriate trigger warnings), the film feels like it has genuinely earned its way there, proceeding to then tackle these heavy moments with the delicate sensitivity and respect they deserve.

The film's modest budget does not show in the slightest. Gillespie knows how to get bang for their buck, with everything shining at all times, while also throwing in some clever technical tricks to keep things fresh and the story moving along in more and more interesting ways. The cast blooms with enthusiasm, and while some of the actors are clearly more experienced in their craft than others, none feel truly at sea in their roles. Georgina Gillespie's constant calm befits her role as guide to the afterlife, always offering an empathetic ear or gentle word to her latest tenant when they need it most and is a powerful, entertaining co-protagonist to get behind. But everything really comes alive the moment Banner's Olivia bounds into proceedings, injecting such a different energy to help take the film to different places, and when the emotional depth of the piece starts to show, Banner is by far the standout performer.

A film that strikes the balance between comedy and drama just right, tackling sensitive issues head-on but with the appropriate grace and understanding, Just One Last Thing is a very promising first outing from a filmmaker of clear talent.