‘Next Life,’ directed by Drake Doremus, is reviewed as a romance that follows a London woman through two alternate realities shaped by different choices. Across both outlets’ accounts, the film is described as a “Sliding Doors”-style thought exercise in romantic decision-making, with the story tracking how a single person’s life diverges when circumstances change. Emilia Clarke leads the cast, with Edgar Ramírez and Jack Farthing also appearing. The reviews characterize the film’s premise as built on what might have happened if key moments had gone differently, presenting the same character in alternate timelines rather than a single linear narrative.
Deadline adds context about Doremus, noting that his experiences since his 2019 film ‘Endings, Beginnings’ include ending one relationship and beginning another with his wife, and connects this to the film’s themes of life-altering chance encounters. The Hollywood Reporter focuses more on the film’s execution and describes it as an underbaked romantic exploration, while Deadline emphasizes the film’s “rich and jazzy” style. Both sources agree on the core cast, the alternate-reality structure, and the premise centered on choice.
