After screening Tuesday, my initial reaction was, “What the hell did I just watch?” This is A24 at its finest—engaging yet so strange. Before a single word is spoken, a giant parrot appears on screen, symbolizing death.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, known for her fantastic comedic timing in VEEP, tugs on our heartstrings in Tuesday, a mother-daughter fairytale fantasy exploring grief and motherhood. Dreyfus stars as Zora, the mother of a terminally ill child named Tuesday, who battles Death (voiced by Arinze Kene) as he comes to take her daughter away.

Tuesday is imaginative, surreal, and at times, frightening, but it stands out for its unique literary quality. It’s both funny and depressing simultaneously. If you have a close relationship with your mother, you’ll find this film introspective and deeply poignant.

The film shines in originality. In an era of endless remakes, Tuesday keeps you seated for its sheer shock value. You never expect Tuesday and her Grim Reaper, portrayed as a giant bird, to form a friendship and sing Ice Cube together. These moments in the film are touching.

There are a few misses, including the pacing of the film, particularly in the middle, which feels awkward. Like most A24 films, it will be a hit or miss with audiences. Regardless, it’s a bold swing from A24, and the theme of death is inescapable—whether you accept it or deny it.