Death Becomes You

Ben Verth (rhymes with mirth), the writer and lead thesp in this black comedy about The Grim Reaper’s poor directional skills, doesn’t mind looking like a complete berk, petrified by the prospect of instant death. Who wouldn’t be when faced with a robed ghost in a hoodie, carrying a scythe (extra long) and speaking Darth Vader?

Ben is slobbing in front of TV, stuffing crisps into his face, when The Reaper appears on the screen and seconds later is banging on the door. Instead of legging it out of the bathroom window, Ben grabs a squash racquet and opens up.

The Reap says, “You are my trillionth customer, I’ll give you a wish.”

Ben wishes for “Lucy from class” to eat trifle naked in front of him, followed by a night of passion. She appears in his bed with the aforementioned pudding and Ben starts thinking, “I'm dead and have gone to heaven.” Meanwhile, The Grim has been riffling through Ben’s unpaid bills and realizes he’s at the wrong address and exits next door.

Jim Carrey isn’t going to lose any sleep over this. Ben is a John Candy type, anyway, who does a magnificent shock/horror face.

It took two directors to keep the actors in order, one to stop Kevin O’Donnell’s Reaper from getting too overexcited and the other to persuade Lisa Briggs to eat at least one spoonful of the yukky custard.