I am Not a Serial Killer (2016) - Movie Review

What do you get when you mix true crime and folklore in a pot of 90’s Indie Astethic?

A really good movie.

Let’s discuss…

I am Not a Serial Killer is a 2016 psychological horror / creature feature brought to us by director Billy O'Brien and writers Christopher Hyde

and Dan Wells. The film is based on the first of Dan Wells’ novels in his acclaimed John Cleaver series. If you’re not familiar with the source material, that’s okay. The movie does a good job of summing it up, but definitely give it a look. It’s good stuff. As for O’Brien and Hyde, you probably wouldn’t have heard of them unless you are super into the European short film scene. It actually works in your favor if you aren’t familiar with the European short film style—which I’ll explain a little bit later.

Let’s sum it up first:

The film focuses on John Wayne Cleaver, a young man attempting to cope with the cards nature and genetics dealt him. He was recently diagnosed as a sociopath, assigned a psychiatrist, and forced to move-into his aunt’s mortuary. If that wasn’t traumatic enough, dead bodies start showing up around his small town, bodies that have been mutilated in horrific fashion. John becomes obsessed with the killings. He can’t determine if it’s due to wanting to learn under the killer or stop him. He takes it upon himself to investigate, but what he uncovers is beyond understanding. Will John find a way to stop the killer or will his darker impulses take over? Find out in tonight’s film, I am Not a Serial Killer.

Let me sum up the review here. I loved this movie.

Ps. I get that many people will hate it.

Which is totally justifiable. This film is shot in a very specific style, which I reference above. Late 2010’s European short films all had a similar gonzo element to their camera work and stark / bleached filters. Picture 2002’s Minority Report mixed with 1993’s Dazed and Confused.

It’s a film style I grew up with in the early 90’s. But back then, it was due to independent films actually being independent penny pinching productions.

These modern million dollar short films are essentially like rich kids playing poverty cosplay.

But by god, does it tickle my nostalgia taint.

The film isn’t so much a narrative as it is a day in the life. Which in simple terms means that the film is told by the characters, not by the camera. If you’re familiar with the Before… series by Richard Linklater, you get it. This is not a film that holds your hand or explains things to you. You are meant to sit down, put your phone away, and experience it. Every scene is a diary entry picking up wherever the writer drops us.

It sounds awful, but hear me out.

It’s like stream of consciousness viewing. The lack of guidance allows your mind to wander and discuss with your viewing partners to try to solve the crime alongside our protagonist.

It helps that the two leads in this film absolute murder it.

The star of the film is the former child actor Max Records, who most would recognize from his performance in 2009’s Where the Wild Things Are. His performance as the broken teen is fantastic. Being mentally ill myself and having crossed paths with true sociopaths in my personal life, I can attest to his performance being overall representative—however there is a fragility he lends to the role that is uncharacteristic—which I feel is more a part of the direction / writing was to have a sociopath with a heart of gold, much like Dexter.

Which makes sense, true sociopaths aren’t very likable in my experience.

To differentiate due to pop-culture misinformation, there is a common misconception that sociopaths are all murderers and monsters. This is not true. Yes, there have been and are many violent sociopaths out there, but they aren’t the same as psychopaths. Sociopathy is characterized by a complete lack of understanding of the rights or feelings of others. Essentially the inability to feel empathy for anyone or anything. They lack charisma in most cases (and in my experience). Psychopaths, like Ted Bundy, also lack empathy, but they also have an overly confident and often times arrogant personality hidden behind a veil of superficial charm. They are pure charisma. Just because you can’t feel feeling, doesn’t mean you’re going to be a murderer.

Hell, with the state of the world in 2024, you’re one of the lucky ones. (Insert “This is Fine” meme here)

Now, let me jump down from this soap box.

Max’s foil and co-star in this waking nightmare is film legend, Christopher Lloyd. Doc Brown came out of his retirement to make a rare appearance and I can understand why. I don’t know if it’s that I’ve watched Camp Nowhere about a million times as a kid, or what. But he’s one of the most likable people you could ever seen walk on screen. Which works for him here where he gets to play such a layered character. A lesser actor would have leaned into dark or light too far and would have ruined it. Lloyd has a gravitas that lifts the film up.

The movie shines every time Lloyd and Max interact. The energy between them is fantastic and shows the dichotomy between Sociopathy and Psychopathy.

The actors were helped with a barebones script, but incredible direction. Everything feels organic and just a few inches away from documentarian. You can tell the actors had freedom to stretch their legs, lending to the authenticity of their performances. The frozen landscape of Minnesota also lends a hand in enhancing the feeling of isolation in the story.

The special effects are surprisingly solid for a low budget production and their design lends a lot to it. The monster / creature design is very abstract and organic, which through good camera and lighting can look much more fancy than it actually is.

Which this movie had both.

If you ever wondered what Dexter meets Dazed and Confused would be like, this movie is for you.

I won’t do a spoilers section, I’ve said enough already.

Please support this film. It’s currently streaming on Shudder.