Diva Del Mar Reviews I Am Not A Serial Killer
SXSW is over, but many of the fabulous films from the festival stay with me. As I get back to my regular work routines, my mind returns to the movies. I think I overindulged more in films than the free drinks. That in the end, is what brings me to SXSW. They program fantastic films! And in this quiet after-math of the fest, I look through my notes and can take a quiet moment to consider the beauty and variety of SXSW cinema. Among the more memorable films, I Am Not A Serial Killer is one of that I really enjoyed.
This film revolves around the main character, John, a troubled teenager struggling with his own personal demons. John has been diagnosed with sociopathy and regularly sees a therapist to discuss his complex development as he steps into adulthood. He’s obsessed with serial killers and his well-meaning, but overwhelmed mother runs a funeral home. John has unfettered access to dead bodies through his mother’s business, and it has a questionable effect on his well-being. As we learn about John’s mental health, a series of grizzly murders begin to pop up in his small home town, Clayton. Fascinated as ever with death, John begins to investigate the murders and soon finds himself in the thick of some gothic circumstances.
Firstly, the film features really great writing and was obviously astutely researched. I enjoyed the poetic nature of the prose and how the movie gently leads you along a path of discovery. The story is told in first person, as we follow John along while he sleuths out the violent murders that are creating havoc in his community. Billy O’Brien, the director and screenwriter does a great job at capturing the frustration of a kid like John. And the character’s internal struggles make a relevant back drop to uncovering the truth behind the growing body count.
Christopher Lloyd who is always fun to watch on the screen, brings us a dark and underplayed performance. It’s weird seeing him play it subtle, his over-the-top antics are his signature, and this role is something different. He’s tired and sad, troubled and staunch. I would delve deeper, but he is a fun character to discover. For the most part, the rest of the cast is great. John is played by Max Records, an experienced child actor with an impressive resume. He plays the morbid teenager part quite well. My only negative in this film is the actress they chose to play John’s sister. She does a fine job acting and she is a lovely lady, but she looks too old for the part and it was a bit confusing. It’s a tiny hiccup compared to the quality of the film as a whole.
Pacing is steady, and it rides the edge of “too slow” at some points, but I never got bored. Your interest peaks with each reveal about the murderer, and then it levels out to as John processes the new information. This is a movie for those who like that X-Files pace, where the mystery takes it time. It is definitely a horror film, but not one that relies on jump gags and high-adrenaline cinema. It relies on its subject matter for its creep-factor, and a there are a few moments of tension. The ending could be debated, but I thought it a fitting conclusion, satisfying but by no means grand. The villain in this film is rather unique, not your typical bad guy, making the film’s ending appropriate. It is the first time I have seen this particular kind of boogieman make it into a movie. It’s an ancient kind of villain and quite refreshing to see it in a good story.
I really enjoyed this sleuth, coming-of-age flick. It’s the kind of movie you curl up on the couch to watch with the lights turned out. I invite you to keep an eye out for it and see what you think!
Thanks for reading!
Diva Del Mar
