A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach.
What if a serial killer needed a life coach? The very basic premise of the dark comedy “A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life” purports both a buddy comedy, serial killer thriller, and a raucous ride through the shady side of the self-help/homegrown therapy world. While it’s dry humor occasionally strikes a chord, the movie ultimately settles into its sinister plot for a stronger back half.
This movie easily could’ve benefitted from adding twenty more minutes into its runtime. The pacing of the film stretches out jokes to the point of collapse early on. Specifically, the amount of time spent on the Nature Therapy scenes just elongates the simple joke “these people are idiots.” In fact, it runs so long the film feels contemptuous towards all the therapies shown. It drags in the middle section even more so because the beginning of the film offers so much promise.
Katie Brayben plays the lead, Lou, with aloof curiosity. Her small-town nobody charm smothers certain scenes making her character a very tepid and meek observer of the world around her. The tepid performance would not bother me normally but we get little to no insight as to her personality. When asked what her ambitions are, she merely lists vague goals of wealth and popularity. Her personality feels entirely too vague. Which makes Poppy Roe’s ‘Val’ ring so true. She’s the exciting one. She’s the take-charge type. Her mysterious origins never nagged at me (it pays off in a big way later.) Every character surrounding these two female prop them up as foils and illustrate minor touches of clownish self-help gurus.
The camerawork of the film feels claustrophobic to start. The camera bounces and bobs so often I could imagine one feeling nauseous at times. They really run that aesthetic into the ground. When the camera does choose a more stationary route it has some of its most even angles. The whole thing shows signs of promise and a strong grasp of visual language it just over-delivers on one aesthetic choice so thoroughly as to distract from the overall script.
Comedy is the best medicine and ironically, our society obsesses over serial killers so much the major twist can be spoiled by any true crime-literate. The movie accomplishes much in its singular runtime. It displays a textured color palette and employs strong visual language. It’s the movie of someone learning to walk before they can run and I respect that. It made me laugh so many times. Ultimately, this movie could’ve benefitted from giving me more to work with. More to think about. More character to digest. When this film works it works like gangbusters (the killing spree being my favorite part) but when it drags you really feel the drag. Finally, it ends like a “Black Mirror” episode, leaving you shocked and delighted. A purgation of all the self-help you never knew you didn’t need, I recommend for those home viewers who like a simple serial killer thriller.
“A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life” will be released on iTunes and Digital HD January 13th
