[yasr_overall_rating]
A dark and gritty psychological thriller that explores one small town man’s need to purify the world of sin, one sinner at a time.
I’m going to be honest: I went into “Grandpa’s Psycho,” Danny Legare’s psychological thriller about a fundamentalist Christian Baby Boomer, with exceedingly low expectations. The title of the film is uncreative and would seem to indicate a poorly acted, underwhelming B-movie. And while “Grandpa’s Psycho” will certainly not be bringing home any hardware on Oscar night, or even garner very much critical acclaim, it is nonetheless an overachiever in a genre full of of the same trite offerings.
The film showcases the depths of depravity displayed by Murray (Gunter Grambo), a widowed grandfather who finds comfort in both his Bible and his church. Grambo’s performance is a strong one, adding depth to Murray’s character while simultaneously letting us peek into the utter insanity that has gripped his mind. Murray lives alone in a cabin and is clearly damaged by the loss of his wife, though he still holds a job and is well-respected by both his family and the locals. Superficially, Murray is a man bound by tradition and strict Christian morals, though of course the audience expects there to be something much darker beneath the surface. And indeed, there is: Murray has taken it upon himself to cleanse his small town of “foul-mouthed” young women in a deeply misguided (and arguably sexist) attempt to restore piousness to Middle America.
Viewed through the lens of a man clinging to old-fashioned institutions to help soothe the uneasiness he feels when confronted by the unavoidable process of aging and inevitable social change, “Grandpa’s Psycho” becomes much more than a sexploitation flick about an old man cutting up young, naked women (though the film certainly retains that seedier element as well). Murray seems like a decent guy, if not a bit fogeyish. Yet, a man who raised a family and commands respect in his community commits unspeakable crimes against innocent victims that cannot possibly have the desired outcome: does Murray really think that his execution of a few uncouth townies is really going to usher in a new era of religious hegemony? If so, he is far more unbalanced than even the film makes him out to be – and, spoiler alert, you are not going to end your viewing of “Grandpa’s Psycho” thinking that Murray has even a semblance of sanity.
Overall, the film is well-acted and the overall quality is high, despite the low budget that it was clearly operating on (and becomes more evident as the film goes on). However, there were plenty of parts that left me with more questions than answers. For example: why does Murray execute his murderous vendetta only on women who use foul language? Those answers are not forthcoming, and I felt that the film would have been better for providing an explanation. Furthermore, while the acting is a strength for “Grandpa’s Psycho,” it cannot cover up the shoestring budget this film was a victim of. I would have loved to see much more of the town and seen some world-building for the characters to benefit from. More authentic sets wouldn’t have hurt, either.
However, despite its flaws, “Grandpa’s Psycho” still left me largely surprised and entertained. Grambo is believable as a psychotic, radicalized senior citizen, and the psychological component is played out very well. If you are looking for a film that leaves you wanting more, you could do much worse than this.
Available now on Video On Demand
GRANDPA’S PSYCHO Trailer from danny on Vimeo.
