Every Town Has Its Monsters

I Am Not A Serial Killer
2016 | R | 1 hr 44 min | Drama/Thriller | IFC Midnight


Director: Billy O'Brien

Writers: Billy O'Brien, Christopher Hyde

Stars: Max Records, Christopher Lloyd, Laura Fraser

Synopsis:

In a small Midwestern town, a troubled teen with homicidal tendencies must hunt down and destroy a supernatural killer while keeping his own inner demons at bay.

If you are new to the cave or stopping by to check out my entry into the Mystery Mania Blog-a-thon hosted by Pop Culture Reverie welcome and enjoy as we talk about the most whacked out mind trip I have seen in years!

Based on the 2009 novel by Dan Wells, Billy O'Brien tests how far our sympathies can be stretched as we try to identify with amoral or mentally ill protagonists.  And the path O'Brien takes on down is intriguing, to say the least.  O'Brien being from Ireland paints a very harsh and cold look of Minnesota in the winter so elegantly. Shot on 16 millimeters (something rarely done today) his thoughtful visual plan, aligning us with a perspective seen through the eyes of our young star making the most of the drab backdrop of smokestacks, icy roads, and bare trees.

Our young star is played by Max Records and besides the cool name, his big break came from Where the Wilds Things Are. Records took home many independent awards for his role as John Wayne Cleaver our anti-hero now grown into a convincingly sour teenager. Diagnosed as a sociopath, John is obsessed with serial killers, fearing he might develop into one himself. When evidence surfaces that a real killer is operating in his town, John launches an investigation of his own. One obvious suspect is his creepy neighbor Mr. Crowley, played very effectively by Christopher Lloyd, whose rasp and shambling movements establish him as a figure of menace even from afar.

Loyd and Records are pure magic together weaving there stories together twisting and turning every other minute and you just don't know what it is your watching. Without giving too much away your never sure if you're watching a very uncomfortable teen comedy, an odd drama, or something straight out of the twilight zone.  The one thing I can say is this one grabs you in the gut while building up so much tension that you can feel every squeeze as it gets tighter and tighter. Even if your not sure what the hell is going on you can not look away and it is amazing!

This movie has it all a great cast, and off the rail storyline, and the look and feel that brings you right into a small town. The only downfall is this one is a slow burn, in fact, its a toss it into a crockpot it's going to be a while slow burn.  But yet you walk away full and satisfied with the payoff. 

Independent cinema always brings out the best in people and I Am Not a Serial Killer was a perfect blend for Christopher Loyd. Loyd alone is worth the price of admistion. Streaming now on Hulu this is a well painted grim story that a nice twist at the end.  

I Am Not a Serial Killer is a much see.

4 Bloody Brains out of 5

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