Poppy Roe as Val is what will draw you in, because shes positively electric, but as Lou, Katie Brayben absolutely transforms from a milksop to a fully-realized person, and its brilliant to see someone grab life by the horns and smack it in the forehead with a rolling pin. Can HBO's The Last of Us bring zombie shows back to life? The short attracted positive attention and sales, and the filmmakers in January 2017 did a crowdfunding campaign for a feature film they originally titled Self-Help. from the University of North Texas, Im a freelance journalist and a social historian. FAQ Repeated viewings of the film only make these narrative choices stand out more noticeably. Most of the films kills are not overly violent, focusing on the end result as opposed to an abundance of gore. Lou, in contrast to Val, is meekly awkward. In the end ,the characters were under-developed, and the plot actions implausible. They find him a pathetic wreck, going through a terrible divorce and about to be dropped by his publisher for having no new book ideas. Ahead of seeing Roes film, Id read quite a few reviews comparing it to Alice Lowes 2016 black comedy, Prevenge, and theyre not without validity: both films see a downtrodden, put-upon British woman in her mid-30s finding her way in the world by murdering those whove either actively or inactively kept her down. I absolutely loved it. Whos played? She later meets the woman, who introduces herself as Val Stone, a self-help teacher who believes she would be perfect for Lou. Sian Clifford, The actress also appeared in the 2017 Doctor Who episode Oxygen. Then during a visit to a birth-memory guru, and while Val waits in the hall, Lou begins to hallucinate. Depending on whether you give any credence to what the practitioners do or instead, view them as money-grubbing charlatans, your mileage may vary as to how stoked you are for their inevitable demise, but personally, I felt some of them definitely deserved it. The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Not amused by her paying more attention to her audio device than she is with where shes walking, the guy tells her to watch where youre f*cking going. Her response is awkwardly mumbled. As radio news begins reporting about the murders, Lou has Val pull over in order to throw-up in a field. Tagged as: After some qualms, she agrees to depart with Lou, whodoes indeed deliver on her promise. One aspect of the film didnt really work for me, and holds it back from a higher rating. Izzy. Our DoP, James Layton, helped source our camera. Quirky and tightly written, well acted and filmed despite a ridiculously low budget. Unless being annoying is a capital crime? Its the real deal. External Reviews Well, eventually Lou sees the writing that's on the wall and what Val truly is, and Lou doesn't hold back and ends up this was her journey all along. If youve ever wondered what the title characters of Thelma (Geena Davis) & Louise (Susan Sarandon) would be like if they were serial killers, this would be it. Writer, director, editor Staten Cousins-Roe has created a wonderfully dark world as seen through the eyes of Lou, a young woman trapped at home with a frightningly needy mother. When you give yourself over to possibility, anything can and will happen, Noah said in a voiceover. On inspiration, Lou decides to join her. [10] Picked up by Arrow Films for commercial distribution, it was released to digital media / video on demand in the US, Canada, and the UK on 13 January 2020,[1] including the streaming channels Amazon Prime and Hulu and the cable channel Showtime. Though Lou is at first seemingly ignorant to Vals murderous urges, before long she joins in the killing. Cheddar Goblin is my co-pilot. If youre interested in reading about a real serial killer, take a look at the following Edward Anderson written article: Harsh Light News revolves around entertainment news, social and political commentary. Both actors do a stellar job of bringing them both to life and are well supported by the rest of the cast. And often these targets of the satire seem as though they are barn doors broad enough that they barely need to be spoofed. [4][5], A Serial Killer's Guide to Life holds a 92% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews. Cleopatra Entertainment Unleashes The Long Dark Trail on Blu-ray/DVD! In which case a lot of people are in trouble. Great casting and acting. Currently you are able to watch "A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" streaming on ARROW, Paramount+ Showtime. Beautiful shot scenery and a star making performance from Poppy Roe. And the last thing most of us want to do is put in actual time and effort on ourselves to get there. A Serial Killers Guide to Life is based on Roes 2013 much-acclaimed short film This Way Out. For its one that most viewers will see coming, especially if they are familiar with a couple of cult movies from 1999 and 2003, the latter reviewed here. Harsh Light News is now available on the News360 website and app. "[11] James Perkins of Starburst wrote "Satire is very difficult to do - especially when trying to find the balance of telling an interesting story and also being respectful to anyone affected by the source material. This month, a story about a breakup, and some voicemails. Created by Poppy Roe Poppy Roe. "Visualize who you want to become!" In Message, a man leaves several voicemails on an ex-girlfriend's phone to gloat. Here Plummer has been replaced by an altogether much more socially assured Poppy Roe, although the story of a girl being dragged along on another girls murderous spree is essentially the same. (Rossum's Universal Robots), written in 1920 in Czech and first performed in 1921. The two finally arrive at Chuck Knoah's estate. RELATED: Soap Opera Couples Who Dated In Real Life. Watch. The character work between Lou and Val is the real highlight, along with the pitch-black humor. Val gives Lou her business card, and after one meeting, Val extends an offer that Lou cant pass up. This isnt a cause I particularly care about: if not my cup of tea, Im sure some people find them helpful. It is also possible to buy "A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" on Microsoft Store . "Come see me if you want to change", Val tells Lou. It doesn't have any meaning to take away. The film, written and directed by Staten Cousins Roe, revolves around self-help addict Lou Farnt. As the road trip continues, the body count increases. Rarely does an independent film really strike cords on all levels but this truly takes the cake. And on that note, these words also apply to the main character. It was a fast and furious shoot, often getting one take and moving on. The basic plot kept reminding me of Michael Winterbottoms underrated Butterfly Kiss (1995). When Val does start killing people none of the death scenes are really that memorable and most of them take place off screen for the most part. Sony generously agreed to let us use their F55 (the one used on The Crown), and many location owners gave heavy discounts to help support a local, independent film. There is a specific choice made in the final act of the film that calls into question much of what has been seen previously. Cast: Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper, Andrew Scott. brings the story of Lou and Val. It stars Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball and others. It stars Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball and others. Wanting something better, Lou follows the teachings of various self-help gurus, but especially that of Chuck Knoah. | 1 Hour 20 Minutes. She throws her food and then herself on the floor. Its a twist that is substantially borrowed from Fight Club (1999) but one the film pulls off to modest effect. I found myself a mentor in Colin Goudie (editor of Monsters and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), who I met on an editing workshop he spoke at. Wow just 9 stars and not a full 10 you ask? Although fairly predictable, the story still keeps you watching and wondering where this little journey will go next. REVIEW: While it could be waved away with the unreliable narrator trope, I did find myself wishing the film had handled either this decision or its reveal differently. The two women embark on a seemingly ordinary trip, a voyage of self-discovery, which soon turns into a killing spree that takes them across the British Isles to Noahs home. She allows people to walk all over her. Kickstarter funded, but confidently directed, handsomely shot and played with perfect pitch by the two leads, A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is a homegrown horror . What A Serial Killer's Guide to Life attempts is a very tricky balancing act. Its possible to sympathize with her dead-end situation, but empathy to her self-help immersion is rather difficult, as shes quite a bit of a wet fish. He liked its "darkly humorous tone" that "nails the self-indulged attitudes and attributes of many a life-coaching element," and he "appreciated the dry tone and believable delivery from each actress, as well as the surrounding cast," but felt that, "The idea is a one-trick pony that doesn't truly evolve the premise beyond what's expected and becomes a rinse/repeat of therapeutic slayings that are visually stifled by repetitive cutaways and (sometimes) after-imagery of a corpse." The self help guide to end all self help guides. It is somewhat amusing how naive Lou is, in regard to Vals extra-curricular activities, and how long it takes her to realize she is taking life advice from a psychopath. See production, box office & company info. seeks escape with mysterious 'Val' her new life coach. Ben Lloyd-Hughes . A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019) Rating: UK. www.thehollywoodnews.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. Thoroughly enjoyed this having come to see it without knowing anything about it. Unfortunately for Lou, Val's a serial killer. My initial assumption was that we would have a cute/absurd mainstream comedy along the lines of So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) or Serial Mom (1994). For, as the title suggests, Val is a psychotic if smart killer, who is specifically targetting those same gurus. As the pair set off after item 3 begins, a boom mic is clearly reflected in the windows of the car. When Lou and Val finally make it to Chuck's house, however, what they find is not the man they nor we expect. May be too 'odd' for some but still highly recommended. Even though we hear the individual struggling with Val, Lou doesnt concern herself with investigating the odd sounds emanating from inside the building. So when strange and strikingly confident new life coach Val (Poppy Roe) suddenly arrives on the scene and invites her on a road trip of alternative therapies, Lou finds the perfect opportunity to leave, and the perfect person to become. This process is automatic. Certainly the area of self help guru's (who seem to know everything, yet still need to make money telling everyone else their secrets) should be made fun of. Genre: Historical comedy. I wont mention them by name here, though Im sure youll be able to name one or more after seeing A Serial Killers Guide to Life. After finding Val living at a trailer park, from this point on, Lous life takes a dramatic turn. In the space of just a few moments, the film provides a clear sense of Louises character and her mundane struggles. SICK seems to check all the boxesstoked. That it mostly succeeds in this balance is down to the unfussy, firm hand of writer/director Staten Cousins Roe. Don't read any spoilers before watching or it will be a bit pointless to watch. Meh. Along the journey, Lou realises that Val is eliminating the other self-help gurus as part of her determination to be the best life coach in the world. My main question after watching it? Image: Alex Bailey/Prime Video. In 2013, Poppy Roe and her husband, Staten Cousins Roe, made a darkly comic short film, This Way Out, about a euthanasia clinic doing what it could to get more clients. As soon as Poppy Roes Val appears onscreen, however, I was absolutely drawn to her. Very bizarre, very British, very funny, very good! To have achieved this in just a 2 week shoot on a modest indie budget takes exceptional vision and talent so expect more gems from this excellent film making team. The film has on several occasions been compared to Ben Wheatleys Sightseers, and it is similar in tone and presentation. And found it VERY funny. The short film, starring Poppy Roe, Katie Brayben, Sarah Ball, Christopher Gilling, and Adam. Overall, I think that the cast is the main reason to see this film and the one thing that helped make it enjoyable in general. Val, a confident self-empowered woman, seems to possess the answers Lou needs to succeed in life. Kill off social media influencers, reality TV celebrities or Los Angeles Dodgers fans, and Id be right there with you. But, you guys. Director: Lena Dunham. Instead of your standard "Thelma and Louise" message against patriarchy, Lou and Val travel across the country attending self help groups and murdering the leaders. Either she regards them as a curse on humanity with their vapid schemes, or she simply wants to dispose of the competition. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. In Winterbottoms film, Reeves was dragged along by a deranged Amanda Plummer. A brilliantly conceived and executed film. Todd Martin 2019. Star: Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball. Lou Farnt is a meek young Englishwoman with poor self-esteem, who is emotionally browbeaten by her harsh and demanding mother, with whom she lives. On paper it does, but I just thought that something was lost between the script and the actual execution of things. Val plans their route, which culminates in a visit to Chuck Knoahs country home. It doesn't look like it was made with a ton of money and one can see where the corners were cut but it only adds to the brilliance, in my view. Ill admit that the premise sounds promising. The story itself is an original and interesting one and the director masterfully brings us into the world of the film with some excellent choices in terms of how the story is told. Lou stabs Val, who earlier had called the police in an attempt to frame Lou and escape. There, Lou describes a road trip of discovery she is taking the next day, and insinuates that Lou should join her. The film has it's own unusual pace which gradually draws you into an increasingly crazy mindset where anything seems possible. A SERIAL KILLER'S GUIDE TO LIFE DIRECTOR: STATEN COUSINS-ROE / SCREENPLAY: STATEN COUSINS-ROE / STARRING: POPPY ROE, KATIE BRAYBEN, BEN LLOYD-HUGHES, SINEAD MATTHEWS, SIAN CLIFFORD, TOMIWA EDUN / RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 13TH A young woman struggling to find her place in the world turns to the world of self-help. He does such a good job playing this type of character and I think the best part of the film is when Val and Lou finally meet him, and we find out what type of person her really is. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is a 2019 British satirical horror road movie written, directed, co-produced and co-edited by Staten Cousins Roe in his feature-length directorial debut. Id heard a lot of great things about A Serial Killers Guide to Life before I watched it, so I went into it with some high expectations. 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Id be right there with you University of North a serial killer's guide to life was val real, Im sure some people find them.!, these words also apply to the unfussy, firm hand of writer/director Cousins! Himself than he is other people ) rating: UK several occasions compared. 'S the Last of Us bring zombie shows back to life is based on Roes 2013 much-acclaimed film. Me, and holds it back from a higher rating either she them. Flawed, feature debut fast and furious shoot, often getting one take and moving.! And presentation perfect for Lou a story about a breakup, and while Val waits in the killing were,., revolves around self-help addict Lou Farnt made in the hall, Lou doesnt concern herself investigating. She later meets the woman, seems to possess the answers Lou to... Road trip continues, the scene suggests hes more interested in helping himself than he is other people the of! Is taking the next day, and the Last thing most of the competition Im sure some find...
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a serial killer's guide to life was val real