Dead Mail

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1:20

Dead Mail

2024

1h 46m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

On a desolate, Midwestern county road, a bound man crawls towards a remote postal box, managing to slide a blood-stained plea-for-help message into the slot before a panicking figure closes in behind him. The note makes its way to the county post office and onto the desk of Jasper, a seasoned and skilled "dead letter" investigator, responsible for investigating lost mail and returning it to its sender. As he investigates further, Jasper meets Trent, a strange yet unassuming man who has taken up residence at the men's home where Jasper lives. When Trent unexpectedly shows up at Jasper's office, it becomes clear he has a vested interest in the note, and will stop at nothing to retrieve it....

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Critics Consensus

Punching above its limited budget's weight with an intriguing hook and inventive style, Dead Mail is a polished thriller that audiences won't be returning to sender.

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Dennis Harvey

Variety

An effective, twisty thriller with a singular edge of off-kilter black comedy.

Apr 18, 2025

Full Review

Jordan Hoffman

Fangoria

There’s some nice packaging to this low-budget project, but the box is a little empty.

Apr 18, 2025

Full Review

Katie Rife

RogerEbert.com

Great care is given to aesthetics, and period detail; what’s accomplished visually on (one assumes) a limited budget is remarkable.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 18, 2025

Full Review

Tom Atkinson

Flickering Myth

In a landscape saturated with formula, Dead Mail feels bracingly singular. A modest triumph, posted first class straight to the heart.

May 2, 2025

Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Willing to risk their lives, government workers go above and beyond to care about their work, their coworkers and strangers in this timely heroic tale.

Apr 22, 2025

Full Review

Cheryl Eddy

io9.com

It’s rare to see a movie with such a carefully considered point of view and style that it doesn’t remind you of anything you’ve seen before.

Apr 21, 2025

Full Review

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Avindu G

A strange story of erupting obsessions that's buried deep with trauma. It's a vivid portrayal of loneliness and a dangerous means of coping. The unqiue color character and cinematography is excellent. Wonderful acting by John Fleck. Haunting music effects and moody backgrounds. It's originality makes this movie worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

Full Review

Crockett H.

I appreciate the look and feel of the film, I even respect the huge swing, it just wasn’t my bag. There’s slow burn and there’s needlessly slow, this was the later.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/02/25

Full Review

Craig W.

Great thriller with a twist, didn’t know what I was getting into with this and I’m so glad I watched it. Highly recommend

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

Full Review

Megan D

Watch this if you love the 80s, thrillers or psychological horror! This is a MUST SEE

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

David S

Incredibly well written with many sides of a story developing from different points of view that all tie together with a twist. Masterpiece 👍

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

Hugo S

A man is kidnapped and held hostage by his demented business partner. The victim eventually manages to send a bloodied note to the local post office, pleading for help. The letter is handled by a skilled worker specialized in tracking down lost mail. The chain of events triggers unforeseen impacts on the lives of these three men. Set in the 1980s, "Dead Mail" is an unconventional thriller that explores extreme isolation and obsession in the context of a friendship that becomes increasingly toxic. A slow-burn story that requires patience and appreciation for its nostalgic throwback.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

Full Review

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Joe DeBoer

Director

Kyle McConaghy

Director

Sterling Macer Jr.

Josh

John Fleck

Trent

Susan Priver

Bess

Micki Jackson

Ann

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Dead Mail: Teaser Trailer

1:20

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Synopsis

On a desolate, Midwestern county road, a bound man crawls towards a remote postal box, managing to slide a blood-stained plea-for-help message into the slot before a panicking figure closes in behind him. The note makes its way to the county post office and onto the desk of Jasper, a seasoned and skilled "dead letter" investigator, responsible for investigating lost mail and returning it to its sender. As he investigates further, Jasper meets Trent, a strange yet unassuming man who has taken up residence at the men's home where Jasper lives. When Trent unexpectedly shows up at Jasper's office, it becomes clear he has a vested interest in the note, and will stop at nothing to retrieve it....

Director: Joe DeBoer, Kyle McConaghy
Producer: Zachary Weil, Brett Arndt
Screenwriter: Joe DeBoer, Kyle McConaghy
Distributor: Shudder
Production Co: Alarmist Entertainment, Contact Light Films
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 18, 2025
Runtime: 1h 46m

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