‘You’re Killing Me’–Amusing, Gory, and Original

Written by Lois Kennedy

Directed by: Jim Hansen

Cast: Matthew McKelligon, Jeffery Self, Bryan Safi, Edi Patterson, Jack Plotnick, Sam Pancake

Joe is a sociopathic serial killer. George is a web series comedian. Sparks fly when they meet, but unfortunately George doesn’t realize that when Joe talks about killing people, he’s being serious. Joe is falling in love and getting in touch with his feelings, but at the same time he’s endangering everyone around him—including George’s circle of friends.

First and foremost, it’s a refreshing change of pace to see gay performers and characters in a movie (especially in a horror movie—this is a sub-genre with majorly slim pickings), with heterosexual characters relegated to token status. The filmmakers tread lightly, however; the guys are for the most part flouncy and lispy, and the guy-guy contact is kept to a minimum. Thus the film is groundbreaking but not overly threatening to a heterosexual audience.

Sexuality aside, the film scores high marks for innovation. It straddles the line between comedy and horror in an unusual way—it’s not silly, and it’s not scary, but occasionally it crosses the line into disturbing and occasionally it’s funny. The main characters are deeply flawed, but they’re somehow still compelling. Nothing about the movie is conventional—not the morality, not the plot, and not the visuals. The viewer is continually forced to see from Joe’s perspective, from his surreal daydreams to his sessions with a therapist that are shot from his point of view. Or the way that the room brightens when he stabs someone.

It doesn’t scream high budget, but it looks good. The practical effects are cleverly executed, and the acting is competent. It’s not as funny as the trailer makes it look, but it’s entertaining. A couple of moments tickled me, for example a scene from George’s web series; George plays a killer, and his victim deadpans to the camera, “Kids. I blame video games.” One of my favorite scenes is when George’s friend Emma, who has been begging people to listen to a song she wrote throughout the movie, finally gets to play it, and everyone in the car with her starts singing along, even though they’re fleeing a murder scene. Give it a look if you’re in the mood for a fresh perspective on the serial killer genre.

Rating: 4.5/5