recommended

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

I never review any films but I felt compelled to after having watched this absolute trash. I honestly have no idea why it has so many good reviews, this film is so inconsistent. The main character is diagnosed as being a sociopath yet he cares for everyone?!?! 90% of the film is filler, none of the scenes push the story forward, a plot didn't seem to exist. An hour into the film I checked to see how long it had been on for, I was gobsmacked it had only been on for 60 minutes, It felt like days had passed. The film was slow and cumbersome, the dialogue was ineffective and didn't contribute to the story line most of the time. I won't put any spoilers in, the main spoiler of the film is the fact it has spoilt my Sunday afternoon, I'm hungover and now I'm angry too. Please don't watch this film, you will just end up like me, bitter, twisted and disappointed.

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this little indie horror/ thriller/offbeat combo. At first very cynical that this was a plot and a character that I was going to hate, I found myself hooked by both the plot and the character by the time the move resolves.Our "hero" is a teenage sociopath. His father left when he was young and he lives with his mom and (I think) her lesbian lover (never clear) in their family funeral parlor. All of it has combined to make him an emotionless weird kid, picked on at school and mostly isolated. When we first meet him, I was sure he would annoy the heck out of me. He's basically a ripoff of Dexter, right down to a code of rules he follows to make sure that he "stays good". He's obsessed with serial killers, mouths off to bullies, and mostly has all the traits that Hollywood loves to imbue in the weird kid role in their movies.His proximity to death, in the funeral parlor, brings him very close to a series of local murders, which begin to entangle the hero more and more. We meet Christopher Lloyd, his neighbor, who first seems like the nice old guy next door, but we start realizing that he may have quite a lot to do with the deaths in the town and, even more, may be more than meets the eye. From there, the movie takes a good turn, slowing developing a tense, tight plot line that ratchets up the suspense and deftly introduces many elements. At its' very core, it's a thriller, with twists and turns and plenty of suspense. There is a lot of horror, as well, with violent, grisly murders. There is an offbeat sense of humor to the whole movie, especially from our teenage hero. We even get some magic realism, or modern folklore, as the real truth of what the murderer really is plays with many aspects of old folklore.This movie could have been a disaster in the wrong hands. The kid could have come off as completely annoying. The low budget effects may have thrown everything off the rails. The odd sense of playful gallows humor could have prevented the movie from gathering any suspense. But this is one of those rare indie films that gets most everything right. Is it ground breaking? No, certainly not, but it's an entertaining movie that will appease horror fans and anyone looking for something a little different.

I read the first three books in the John Cleaver series by Dan Wells, and really enjoyed them. I didn't realize there are six until I started doing a bit of research for this review. I will definitely be checking them out.This movie was close to the first book, but there were four big differences. In the book you were able to read more about what was going on in John's mind. While Max Records did a great job showing emotions (or non-emotions) with his face, to me it was still lacking because we couldn't know all that he was thinking.The next was with Brooke. In the book John is obsessed with her, in such a way that it is very creepy and you actually think he will kill her. But in the movie, it seemed more like Brooke was obsessed with John. The scene where he is watching her through the window just didn't have the same effect that it did in the book.Next, and it's been awhile since I read the book, but I seem to remember that his mom was more understanding of him and his tendencies. In the movie when the psychiatrist tells her, she freaks out and doesn't want him down in the embalming room with her any more. I don't remember her doing this in the book, and she actually had him join her because she knew it was a way for him to temper some of his urges.And the last part that was really different was how the book ended. It was actually more climatic than in the movie. The killer who was violently fighting for his life in the book, just kind of lost all his fight in the movie.But even with these differences you should still watch this one, but maybe read the book afterwards so you get more out of it.

Very Low-Budget Film Festival Darling that is now appearing to have Main-Stream Access and a Faint Buzz of sorts. Supposedly Shot on 16mm Fuji Film (although it's hard to tell) but if that's the Fact, why did They bother. It isn't that Grainy or Gritty and the Small Town Winterized Atmosphere will Show in any Format.Max Records is the Lead Teen, that one Guesses, is forever Telling Himself Inside His Head, "I am not a Serial KIller", although He is Fascinated by the Type and Studies the Phenom and even sets Rules for Himself to Keep His Urges in Check.It's a Different sort of Film in the Genre which Works at times to give it an Off-Kilter Approach. The Pacing is Slow but not to a Detriment. The Acting all around is Professional and the Old War Horse Christopher Lloyd Steal the Show (no surprise) given the Juicy Role.There are some Surprises and it Stuns now and then to Keep Things Moving. Some of the Script calls for Things that Require a Strong "Suspension of Disbelief" (a teen working in a Mortuary...Illegal and Morally reprehensible).Overall, it is an Above Average Genre Piece with enough Intrigue and Solid Professionalism to make the Experience Rewarding. But the Storytelling is Lacking in Exposition and Incoherent occasionally, a Frequent Shortcoming in Low-Budget, Quickie Film-Making.Worth a Watch for Fans of the Type. Original but not a whole lot is Refreshing in the often done Serial Killer Sub-Genre.Note...The Lead Teen Character is named "John Wayne Cleaver". That's just silly.Note 2..."Spirit in the Sky" the song by Norman Greenbaum is once again used over the End Credits. A Pop Song utilized more in Opening and Ending Movies, than perhaps any other and...That's just silly.