Once I saw that Christopher Walken and Jane Curtin (from 3rd Rock From the Sun!) were in Back in Black at TIFF 2026, I knew I had to see it. I was ready for whatever strange and absurd thing director Ron Murphy was going to throw at me. A bit funny, a bit weird and creepy, Back in Black kept audiences entertained with an ending that was a perfect cherry on top.
Walken and Curtain play the Mortimers, a couple who run the local funeral home in a small town. Their granddaughter, Sam—who doesn’t speak for an unknown reason—works with them and is set up to take over the place someday. The only issue? No one in the town is dying, and bills are still coming in. Sam, overcome by grandfather Clyde’s worry and sadness, decides to find a way to save the family business, and chaos ensues.
The entire premise of Back in Black could absolutely have been something darker and more sinister, but Murphy and writing partner Nick Torokvei opted to go the comedic route with this one. The humour is also a bit absurd; for example, there is an over-the-top sheriff convinced there is a cartel in their very, very small town, a German visitor who literally never stops talking, and a rookie cop who is determined to solve the real mystery.
Most of the time, the comedy lands, though sometimes it can get a bit much, with some attempts that feel more like inside jokes than anything. I think the choice to never have Sam (Ella Ballentine) speak is a bit unnecessary, and doesn’t really add much to the plot aside from allowing other characters to tell her everything. The German, Kevin, played by Giamo Alfredi, carries a lot of the ensemble’s comedic weight, second only to Walken, of course.
“A bit funny, a bit weird and creepy, Back in Black kept audiences entertained with an ending that was a perfect cherry on top.”
It doesn’t feel like they just gave Christopher Walken free rein to do whatever he wants, but I would bet there are certainly moments of improv that made it into the script. What I enjoyed most was the escalation of Sam’s plan. Without spoilers, it snowballs and gets more and more outrageous, making for some good laughs.
Shot in Canada, Back in Black manages to nail the small-town feel. I believe the motel they used is the actual Space Motel from Niagara Falls. The only thing that felt grand in their town was actually the funeral home itself, which had large grounds for a cemetery and a giant house. Even the people living in the town gave “small-town” vibes, which made characters like Kevin, Sam, and Charlotte (Watson Rose) stand out even more.
Charlotte’s character was vital to the story; without her, I think the loop would have become tedious and uninteresting at a point. Rose masters the tough, mysterious, spooky girl, which is surprisingly a good opposite to Ballentine’s silent but still seemingly sweet Sam. Each of the characters in Back to Black is kooky in their own way, which made for an interesting, albeit a bit campy, small town.
Back to Black was a perfectly serviceable comedy that had some great laughs and some that didn’t land. If you enjoy Christopher Walken in any way, it is definitely worth a watch. Though the jokes occasionally bordered on cheesy, the film’s ending is the ultimate payoff, making it all worthwhile in the end.
