Die Like a Man

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Anna K Last week, I watched Die Like a Man on Vimeo and truly enjoyed it. I was really struck by how intimate and full of heart the film felt, especially knowing it was made in such a short time. I found the acting and camera work to be so effective. And the way the story played with familiar tropes was such a refreshing surprise. The music was beautifully chosen and I felt really enriched the characters’ emotional journeys. I also have a deep appreciation for tragedies, and the ending reminded me in a powerful way of Breathless, which is a favorite of mine. Indies are so important to a healthy film industry. Well done to the cast and crew! Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/03/25 Full Review Paul B I saw Die Like a Man at my local art house theater (shout out to the Grand Cinema in Tacoma, WA) and it delivered a gritty, human, and suspenseful story. Die Like a Man takes us into the challenging world of Freddy, a 17-year-old on the edge of manhood. Freddy, played with utter honesty by the talented Miguel Angel Garcia, ranges from angry, to boyishly joyful, to utterly shattered, as he tries to navigate his gang-saturated neighborhood in LA. The question of who Freddy will become drives this intimate story. Will he become a gang banger "protecting the neighborhood" and repeating the cycle of toxic masculinity that fuels generational turf wars and family tragedies? Or will he find a way to let out his better angel? Freddy's sweet soul longs to look after his mom and protect his would-be girlfriend, Luna, played with electric authenticity by Mariel Molino. But his sensitive heart wars with his concept of manhood, forcing him to make character-defining and future-shaping choices in every sizzling scene. This is all familiar coming-of-age territory, to be sure, but it's delivered with riveting honesty drawn from Writer-director Eric Nazarian's own real-life story. Beautifully lit and shot with mostly handheld cinematography, the visual language of this film is immediate, arresting, and at times uncomfortable. It fits well with a story that refuses to pull it punches, no matter how much we may wish to shield its characters from the harsh realities of life. Created with a talented cast, many with lived experience in gangs, this film takes an unflinching look at a world that is often glamorized but rarely portrayed with this kind of nuance and care. We root for and worry about Freddy from the opening montage to the final frame. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Movie L This was a beautifully shot movie from start to finish. The story draws you in the entire way through of a young man's journey to figuring out the right path. I would say this is a coming of age film with very realistic issues from gun violence, toxic masculinity, poverty and more. This film is a captivating film from start to finish. Wonderful music as well. If you love a good story, and you like indie film in a true form of art and majestic story telling, this is the movie for you. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/25/25 Full Review Ricardo Y Such a raw and heartfelt film! This one really reaches a misunderstood audience! One of the realest new films out! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review Barbara H DIE LIKE A MAN is a passion project and a labor of love. It also takes you on a painful trip behind the curtain of gang life that on first glance seems to be everything you think it is. Until you realize that there are many more social pressures, insidious manipulations and ultimately abuse that contribute to this choice of life. I don’t remember having ever seen another film that takes such an eye opening deep dive into this aspect of our society. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review Ken K Recently saw this on the big screen in Downtown Los Angeles's Million Dollar Theater and it blew me away. It's one of those gritty tense urban coming-of-age tales that feels so authentic that ANYTHING can happen at ANY moment. I was white knuckling it the whole ride. From a filmmaking perspective this movie is running full throttle on all cylinders -- exceptional script, beautiful acting, pitch-perfect tone, dynamic directing, sensational sound, and expert editing. As close as we get to a modern day Menace 2 Society. See it NOW! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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