What A Serial Killer's Guide to Life attempts is a very tricky balancing act. On the one hand, as a horror, it demands a taut, lean, thrill-ride, on the other, as a road movie, it would suggest a meandering, spiritual journey. That it mostly succeeds in this balance is down to the unfussy, firm hand of writer/director Staten Cousins Roe.
One of its biggest successes is grounding the reason for Lou's odyssey in a carefully drawn, dysfunctional home life with her emotionally manipulative and abusive mother, who is probably mentally ill, herself. This is not just a situation Lou, the protagonist, has to contend with, it's something she has to come home to night after night and live and breathe. This is her 'normal' and it has shaped her into someone with nearly no sense of self worth.
The other success is the big twist in her relationship with Val, her life coach, on this messed up journey of self discovery, which I didn't see coming.
One criticism. The film could have immersed us in much more detail of the self-help/pseudo-spiritual cottage industry so we could really understand more about the psychology, religiosity and sales tactics of what in some cases are legalised mini-cults. This would have reinforced Lou's choices and brought a stronger satirical/social commentary angle. Also, more could have been made of the power shifts between Lou and Val.
But this is an interesting and unusual film with very sharp direction. Worth checking out.
One of its biggest successes is grounding the reason for Lou's odyssey in a carefully drawn, dysfunctional home life with her emotionally manipulative and abusive mother, who is probably mentally ill, herself. This is not just a situation Lou, the protagonist, has to contend with, it's something she has to come home to night after night and live and breathe. This is her 'normal' and it has shaped her into someone with nearly no sense of self worth.
The other success is the big twist in her relationship with Val, her life coach, on this messed up journey of self discovery, which I didn't see coming.
One criticism. The film could have immersed us in much more detail of the self-help/pseudo-spiritual cottage industry so we could really understand more about the psychology, religiosity and sales tactics of what in some cases are legalised mini-cults. This would have reinforced Lou's choices and brought a stronger satirical/social commentary angle. Also, more could have been made of the power shifts between Lou and Val.
But this is an interesting and unusual film with very sharp direction. Worth checking out.