Laid Off (2006) User Reviews

Great idea, but perhaps too low-key for most audiences

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 17 November 2008]

This is an odd little short film that is narrated by a guy who recently died. Instead of heading to the afterlife, according to this film you are cursed to wander the back as a powerless ghost until you're time to ascend occurs. Apparently, this is a lot like the notion of a purgatory where you work off your debt to gain admittance to heaven.

Some of the film is funny in a very subdued and subtle manner, but I really appreciate how the man's biggest regret was having a hidden porn stash that his grieving widow soon found after his death. The rest of the humor is a bit more low-key and the film may make some laugh while others find it just too slow going and tedious. As for me, I liked the idea but think that perhaps the film might have benefited by either ending a bit sooner or injecting a little more life (get it?) into the picture.

I really like this one a lot

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 21 January 2018]

"Laid Off" is a British 11-minute live action short film from 2006, so this one is already over a decade old and it is in black-and-white. It may be a comedy, but it is also pretty deep and meaningfil. I would not even call it a dark comedy, more of a situational comedy. Writer and director here is Zam Salim and I am glad this got him some awards recognition, but a shame he did not really manage a huge breakthrough in the 12 years since this came out. The lead actor is as good as all the other actors next to him playing smaller parts. It is a bit of a sad film, but there also are occasionally uplifting moments to it. It's a film that encourages you to act right away and do what you want to do indstead of pushing it away to procrastinate. And all this does not even include the personal fate of the central character which is very touching again as well. So there definitely are a whole lot reasons to see this one and I think you don't wanna miss out here. This in my opinion is among the very best short films from the year 2006 and it's close to a must-see for enybody I'd say. This one makes you think a lot for sure and maybe consider some aspects and decisions you made in your life. And the best thing is that the film manages to be meaningful while never getting in danger of becoming pretentious. This also has to do with pretty much all the production values being top-notch. A very atmospheric watch and a mastercall in developing tone. I highly recommend checking it out.

Brilliant !!!!

[dom-190 · 10/10 · 20 April 2007]

Laid Off was brilliant.

Such a great idea and I presume they're going to take this further.

Martin is SO funny, the bit about the Ka or the womens toilets, had us all in stitches.

It is one of the funniest and clever short films I've ever seen. I'm just trying to find out about the lead actor and what other films he has been in as he did a brilliant performance in this, and I'm sure that if his other work is anything like this then that will also be very funny.

I know it's not really done to laugh at the dead, but this shows a whole new complexion of being dead and was very funny.

Please, please, please make a full feature length film from this, I'm sure it will be a big success.

Me and all my friends will be lined up first in the queue at the cinema.