Die Like A Man (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

Growing up around gangs, Freddy (Miguel Angel Garcia) becomes part of the life that his mother so desperately wanted him to avoid. Now tasked with murder, Freddy has to ask himself if he’ll bow out of this dangerous life, or if he’ll Die Like a Man. 

Die Like a Man is a harrowing film set against a gorgeous backdrop, expressing the challenging dynamic that Freddy faces in his day-to-day life. With Freddy often present in the foreground, the focal point of the film, viewers quickly become accustomed to his way of life–understanding his plights and often sympathizing with him along the way. The depth present in Die Like a Man, as a result of the aesthetically captivating background and setting, enhances this sentiment–further solidifying our understanding of this character, but developing other characters as well. We get the best of both worlds in Die Like a Man, a seemingly accurate representation of the hardened criminals that run these streets, but also the glorious potential that waits just outside the limits of the world to which Freddy has been too long confined. 

A masterfully developed score accompanies the film’s protagonist. Antagonist? Deuteragonist? I’m not entirely sure what Freddy is–but we’ll come back to that later. A blend of heavy, sometimes horror-esque instrumentals play against the occasional silence. This silence is just as pivotal as the score, working to develop emotion and flesh out Freddy’s story. Composer John Jennings Boyd crafts something multidimensional that allows for foreshadowing, but just as often develops a sense of mystery and foreboding allowing characters to grow throughout Die Like a Man, as well as reel viewers in and keep them firmly planted in this world.

There’s a devolution in Freddy from the start of the film to its conclusion, and Garcia is tasked with bringing this to life subtly and meticulously. Garcia must fully embody the challenging situations in which Freddy finds himself, and many of the situations beg viewers to ask whether or not the film’s main character is likable. Should I root for him, or should I just hope that those plagued by his immature antics are able to move on with their lives with only minimal repercussions? Die Like a Man begs viewers to ask these and other questions about the antagonist-protagonist hybrid of the film. A veritable tug-of-war between good and evil–all existing within one character invites conversations of ethics and morality. In a brilliant performance by Garcia, he brings to life these incredible questions, igniting a fire within Die Like a Man’s viewers–one that seemingly won’t ever be snuffed out. 

Die Like a Man treads the line between psychological thriller and crime drama–blending genres in a way that feels familiar, but has been molded into something unique and intriguing. Writer-Director Eric Nazarian has developed a thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of humanity and justice in a world seemingly void of both. Essences of innocence sprinkled throughout a heavy narrative creates something emotionally riveting and perpetually captivating. 

Written & Directed by Eric Nazarian. 

Starring Miguel Angel Garcia, Cory Hardict, Mariel Molino, Berenice Molina Valle, Frankie Loyal, etc. 

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING