The Movie Diorama
From the very few indie films that I have seen, I should really expect the unexpected. Yet here I am, again...wondering what the heck did I just watch!? The story revolves around a teenager who is obsessed with death and murder. His hometown of Clayton is currently experiencing several deaths in which our protagonist attempts to find the culprit. So...automatically, even just by acknowledging the title, I thought this would be a character study on a psychotic teen who slowly becomes a serial killer. In which, to be fair, that concept is explored both on a subtextual and contextual level. His obsession overwhelms him which could be interpreted for any obsession. Defining the line between passion and obsession, the film utilises murder to convey this. Then...then then then...'I Am Not A Serial Killer' becomes 'I Am Under The Skin'. Quite literally. I was so adamant I knew what was going to happen, even before playing the film and yet the indie genre slaps me round the face and shouts "no, you're wrong. Prepare yourself for this...". Honestly, I'm not sure how to feel about this film. It's intelligent and original no doubt, but the forced abnormal plot just seemed too unusual. So unusual that I think it detracts from the ideas that the film evokes. The psychological aspects are thrown to the side line whilst the narrative focuses purely on this weird story. Is he imagining it? Is it actually happening? Whatever it is, it's hard to relate to the characters. I don't know what to say, I just didn't fully connect with this and couldn't jump onboard. Christopher Lloyd was great as usual, glad he got a decent amount of screen time. The direction was solid all round, really liked the smudges and dirt on the camera lens in certain shots. The ending wasn't powerful or clever. I mean...it concludes fine, but I wanted it to be more psychologically stimulating. It just wasn't. In the end, this was a so-so affair. I liked the technical aspects but disliked the surreal plot to illustrate psychotic behaviour.
ejuopperi
Slow paced ? No ! It's called great character development and great story which you want more of ! Amazing script, acting and excellent executed! Christopher Lloyd is fantastic in this role, and it's a joy to see him act out his role. The movie itself has an late 80s early 90s aura around it, which is great.The soundtrack, atmosphere and the way the movie was filmed felt authentic and real and that combined with everything else just made this movie so awesome. I really can't compare it to anything, but I felt like if the movie Southbound, The Void and the TV show Stranger Things would have a love child it would be named I am not a series killer. When Lloyd quoted William Blake it gave me goosebumps and a chill down my spine. A must watch ! 9/10 for an amazing horror, thriller, drama !
linda
Wow, i didn't see that coming. Nice twist at the ending, i really didn't expect it. At first I thought this was the same kind of mediocre murder movie with a lot of police involved, but i was wrong. It was kind of bored in the beginning, started with daily life of a teenager whom diagnosed with a mental-illness. The story tried to lead us to think the major role was a sociopath, and that he was troubled. And he also thought so. Even though i didn't think he was. I mean, he just had a big interest about a story of homicide. It was perhaps rare among his teenage friends, but it was still normal. He just liked to play detective.The pace is quite slow, the story was not so tense even when there was a homicide happened, but it kept me watching the movie. Maybe i was captivated with the acting, and i believed that something was going to happen. It was not brutal and scary, and we finally know he was not crazy and it sum up everything : he wasn't the killer. I'm not disappointed though, even it seems like an underrated indie movie. I think this movie needs a chance.
tlarraya
I didn't expect much from this movie from watching the trailer. But there are surprises, twists and tension in this movie. It has its creepy moments but it isn't exactly a horror movie. I think the comparisons to Donnie Drako are justified. It does feel like a classical movie. And you do get to feel for the characters. We enjoyed this.
AD
