A LOVELY PLACE TO DIE
In the dense, whispering woods, a seasoned enforcer faces what should be his final walk. A Lovely Place to Die traps viewers in a tense, psychological journey between Mr. Rooker, an aging mafioso, and a young hitman intent on claiming his legacy. As they tread a path lined with deceit and old secrets, the quiet forest becomes a battleground of wits and wills.
Directed & Edited by
DARYL DELLAWritten by
HANK DELLASTARRINGJACK LEWKOWITZ as RookerCHRIS ROSS as The HitmanSound Recordist
RAY REVELLOOriginal Score Composed by
ARBEL BEDAKShot on Location in South Lake Tahoe, CA"I always wondered what I'd be thinking about when this time came...”
- Rooker, A Lovely Place to Die
Witness the debut of several Dollars & Donuts milestones in A Lovely Place to Die. Set against the deceptively serene backdrop of South Lake Tahoe, this film not only introduces Jack Lewkowitz as Rooker—an aging mafioso who would become a recurring symbol of the criminal underworld in subsequent films—but also marks the first appearance of Chris Ross. As "The Hitman," Ross delivers a hauntingly detached performance, escorting Rooker to his forested fate.
Directed and edited by Daryl Della, this project was groundbreaking for its use of the Black Magic Cinema Camera, offering crisp, cinematic quality that became the standard for future productions. Written by Hank Della with an atmospheric score by Arbel Bedak and featuring "Steal Your Thunder" by The Broken Spurs, the film combines narrative depth with technical innovation. Filmed in a single day in 2013 and remastered in 2022, A Lovely Place to Die stands as a landmark in the Dollars & Donuts portfolio, capturing a pivotal moment in its evolving filmography.