I’ve always been a fan of  Brittany Murphy.  I watched Deadline (2009) a few days before her death was announced, and didn’t feel like writing about it until now.  I would say if you are a Brittany Murphy fan then you will enjoy her performance in this creepy thriller written and directed by Sean McConville.  Murphy plays Alice, a young writer past her deadline who chooses to stay in an isolated house for a few days so she can avoid distractions and get some work done.  It becomes quickly apparent that Alice has had some sort of trauma and wants to be secluded because she is hiding from something.  She is very fragile and her friend very reluctantly leaves her in the secluded home without a vehicle.  Once Alice is alone a series of strange events begin.  Is someone from beyond the grave trying to ask her for help?  Is it all in her imagination?  Is someone else in the house tormenting her?  These are all questions you’ll ask while viewing this film.  Deadline also stars the wonderful actress Thora Birch, who can also be seen in American Beauty and Ghost World, two of my favorite non-fear films.  Marc Blucas also stars in Deadline, but for me it’s difficult to see him as anyone but Riley from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series.   The performance of Brittany Murphy was outstanding, I really felt the terror and complete anguish her character experienced.  

 Deadline Trailer