This film follows the wonderfully British tradition of darkly comic understatement! Had the pleasure of viewing A Serial Killers Guide to Life and Grimmfest this year followed by a Q&A with its director and it's certainly been a film to make a lasting impression. Poppy Roe and her drama-school schoolmate Katie Brayben starred. This is a film where I didnt know which way it would go at the outset. There is a believability to their respective characters that shines through the performances. Addicted to self-help guides and guru's Lou becomes beguiled by a mysterious women (Val) who seems to have it all, amazing self confidence, clear life goals and a action plan to achieve them. Children at Play! 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. Smart and clever, A Serial Killers Guide to Life is a brilliantly well-executed dark comedy. The message behind is hidden n this movie is totally underrated. Unless being annoying is a capital crime? 30 something, self-help addict, Lou wants nothing more than to escape her overly controlling mother and the dead-end seaside town where she grew up. A Serial Killers Guide to Life is structured in vignettes, each one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs teachings. Currently you are able to watch "A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" streaming on ARROW, Paramount+ Showtime. Thoroughly enjoyed this having come to see it without knowing anything about it. Both actors do a stellar job of bringing them both to life and are well supported by the rest of the cast. The acting was brilliant. Where the film does become more interesting is the twist where it reveals [PLOT SPOILERS] (with a certain ambiguity) that Poppy Roes Val is actually an imaginary companion/split personality in Lous head. The indie horror comedy "A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" delivers plenty of jokes and blood at the expense of self help gurus who prey on the weak. The film ends with a repeat of the opening scene of Lou, walking outdoors, wearing earbuds and listening to a recorded Knoah lecture. 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. Even the stabs at the pitiful absurdities of self-help gurus wasn't nearly as compelling as it should or could have been; in that sense, the writing lacked inexcusably. 1/2 Still, she speaks with enough authority to keep nave Lou in check, even when the truth about her "therapy" is out of the bag. [4][5], A Serial Killer's Guide to Life holds a 92% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews. Laden with British character actors and featuring a whip-smart story, director Staten Cousins Roes feature, A Serial Killers Guide To Life (out January 13 on iTunes and Digital HD from Arrow Films), takes the road movie formula and turns it into a dryly black comedy about finding ones true self. There, Lou describes a road trip of discovery she is taking the next day, and insinuates that Lou should join her. Uncategorized. On iTunes in the UK: https://apple.co/2YbAz2d On iTunes in the US: https://apple.co/2YbAz2d On iTunes in Canada: https://apple.co/2YbAz2d Meet Lou Farnt: a 3. The film has on several occasions been compared to Ben Wheatleys Sightseers, and it is similar in tone and presentation. There is a dry sense of black humour to the film the girls turning from bashing the head of Owain Rhys-Davies in with a rolling pin to saying Dont forget to bring the sandwiches. On the other hand, this is never a black comedy that goes for the throat or pushes everything into uncomfortable territory as a work like Sightseers does. Cast: Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper, Andrew Scott. A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach.A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach.A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach. Katie Brayben (Louise Lou Frank), Poppy Roe (Val Stone), Ben Lloyd-Hughes (Chuck Knoah), Sarah Ball (Mother), Tomiwa Edun (Ben), Sinead Matthews (Izzy), David Manson (Ralph), Matthew Woodyat (Graham), Owain Rhys-Davies (Marcus), Carys Lewis (Rachel), Chris Bishop (Laughter Therapist). What is the Spanish language plot outline for A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019)? New adventure is an escape and Val is just dark side of the actress. Created by Poppy Roe Poppy Roe. Theres no equivocation in Val, and you immediately see why Lous willing to run off and follow her. Your email address will not be published. While standing in line at a book signing following a talk by one self-help guru, Lou meets and is awed by the self-assured Val Stone who describes herself as a life coach. The short film, starring Poppy Roe, Katie Brayben, Sarah Ball, Christopher Gilling, and Adam Venus, proves the perfect jumping-off point for a feature film. There is nothing quite like a bloodcurdling film that makes one giggle and tremble at the same time. Lou unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach.. In Message, a man leaves several voicemails on an ex-girlfriend's phone to gloat. The character work between Lou and Val is the real highlight, along with the pitch-black humor. After engaging in some activities such as tree hugging, pitching camping tests and listening to one of the three other attendees provide evening entertainment by singing a song in Welsh, they all turn in. It doesn't have any meaning to take away. I just loved it. 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. Val is attractive, tall, headstrong, a woman who knows who she is and is forth coming about it. [6], A trailer was released in January 2020. But, you guys. The real highlight of the film is the interplay between Brayben and Roe. Bravo Mr. Roe for doing just that, the writer, the producer, the director, damn even the editor, absolutely a gem that I would be proud to show anyone looking a good recommendation. In the play, the word refers to artificially created . Fiona Glascott . A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is based on Roe's 2013 much-acclaimed short film This Way Out. Copyright 2023 It feels like the kind of horror-comedy which would rather invite you in for a nice cup of tea than horrify you. I think that John Waters similarly themed classic film Serial Mom is a much better (and funnier) film, and while I didnt necessarily hate this movie I dont think it lives up to its hype and that I wont be watching it again anytime soon. 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. The films dark comedic aspects along with just the right character development and intrigue made this a very enjoyable watch. Tomiwa Edun . Comedy. But moments later, when police arrive, Val seems to have vanished. Lou and Val leave their car behind and take the couple's minivan. brings the story of Lou and Val. It does have a great cast and all (which is probably its biggest strength), but overall, I just didnt think that it was anything special and I was left feeling more than a little underwhelmed after everything was said and done. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life | Apple TV A Serial Killer's Guide to Life Available on iTunes, Showtime, Prime Video, Hulu, Showtime Anytime, SHOWTIME 30 something, self-help addict, Lou wants nothing more than to escape her overly controlling mother and the dead-end seaside town where she grew up. Marcus (Owain Rhys Davies), the vibrational healer and his herbal relaxant certainly needed that bread knife. It took me 27 years to finally understand THAT scene in The Shining, 5 Grimm Fairy Tale Stories That Would Make Great Horror Movies, Explore the haunt known as Hell House LLC, Trauma is the Serbian Film of 2018 [Review], 15 modern indie horror movies to put on your radar, Kids vs Aliens is a PSA for holding onto what you loved as a kid, Final Girls Ep 275: Unpacking Possession, Hilarious and gory, Legions shows slapstick & scares are Fabins forte, The Kids Arent Alright in Theres Something Wrong With The Children, Skinamarink blazes a terrifying new trail for low-budget horror, Lots of, seemingly, hyperbolic things are being thrown around about #SKINAMARINK. Lou Farnt (Brayben) is stuck in her life, with a dead-end job, no apparent friends to speak of, and still living with her domineering mother (Ball). But Lou cannot, and the two lay exhausted in the field. Run time: 1h 48m. Most of the films kills are not overly violent, focusing on the end result as opposed to an abundance of gore. There is a specific choice made in the final act of the film that calls into question much of what has been seen previously. What's on TV & Streaming Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Browse TV Shows by Genre TV News India TV Spotlight. It was very carefully and skillfully filmed, even more surprising when you learn it was made on a tiny budget. [16], 2019 film written and directed by Staten Cousins Roe, "[Review] 'A Serial Killer's Guide to Life' Takes Life Coaching in A New Direction", "How we made A Serial Killer's Guide To Life", "[Exclusive] Arrow Releasing Bloody Comedy 'A Serial Killer's Guide to Life' in January 2020; Watch the Trailer! Noah, a self-help coach, exudes confidence as he expresses his thoughts. Movie Review, Lou and Val, the Thelma and Louise of this film, respectively, are distinctly different. Spoiler-free #review is up. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. Note: not if, when. Betty, according to her mother, is a lawyer. Nature Therapy Ben. The film has it's own unusual pace which gradually draws you into an increasingly crazy mindset where anything seems possible. Rarely does an independent film really strike cords on all levels but this truly takes the cake. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life. 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. Meh. Don't turn it off early as it's worth watching through to the end. Katie Brayben, playing Lou, is possibly better known to Luther fans as Penny Leyton. Someone just no life live in control of her mother. Ok, mildly interesting, but the "twist" is completely illogical. I think my biggest problem with the film is that it is just more boring than anything. It doesnt help that Maureen, Lous mother, constantly makes comparisons between her daughter and Betty Smith. Chuck Knoah. Val and Lou, with how Roe and Brayben present the characters, complement each other perfectly. In addition to his work for Scene-Stealers, Nick can be found bitching about music elsewhere on the Internet at his blog, Rock Star Journalist, and as Music Editor for The Pitch. With the film being set in the British Isles, I think the more appropriate term would be solicitor. It must be frustrating to have a mother that constantly observes how little one has accomplished. On the other hand, the film promptly takes a far darker turn and ends up more in the territory of something like Ben Wheatleys darkly comedic Sightseers (2012), or perhaps even tvs The End of the Fucking World (2017-9). Soon Val and Lou are traveling the English countryside. Val Stone: Sarah Ball . 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