A Serial Killers Guide to Life is structured in vignettes, each one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs teachings. The various therapy sessions the pair of Lou and Val visit are all astonishingly real: back-to-nature, vibrational healing, rebirthing, and laughter all have their adherents, and after doing some reading up on each, it appears that the words and actions . 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. It tried to be off beat and witty but it felt like it was trying too hard. 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. A day later, at Val's invitation, Lou visits her at a caravan park. seeks escape with mysterious 'Val' her new life coach. Whos watching? 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. I enjoyed Roes performance, which does have much of the same failure to give a damn as Villanelle inEve. The Science Fiction Horror and Fantasy Film Review. 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. At one of these seminars she meets Val (Poppy Rose) who is everything that Lou wants to be and is soon convinced to leave her life behind and join Val on the road. Though Lou is at first seemingly ignorant to Vals murderous urges, before long she joins in the killing. Wow just 9 stars and not a full 10 you ask? 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. Someone just no life live in control of her mother. 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. One aspect of the film didnt really work for me, and holds it back from a higher rating. 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. Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. [6], A trailer was released in January 2020. The real highlight of the film is the interplay between Brayben and Roe. Star: Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball. Super excited to see this masterpiece in a new light. Both actors do a stellar job of bringing them both to life and are well supported by the rest of the cast. That could have served as a clue to what would come by the end, but when that end arrived, it was unsatisfying and felt like I was hustled out of 90 wasted minutes that could have been something better, without spending a single Euro more on budget. Their roles are vastly different, and the actresses portray these irredeemable characters in a likable way. It doesnt help that Maureen, Lous mother, constantly makes comparisons between her daughter and Betty Smith. The best part was the end, I'll never get that time back again, only pleasurable part was seeing the actress who played Val, her big eyes and appeal kept me from turning it off. [6], The film, eventually titled A Serial Killer's Guide to Life, shot for two weeks across 28 locations[7] in Brighton and Sussex, England. Tagged as: They are opposites in every way imaginable. I recommend watchin it. When we first meet Lou, shes aimlessly walking along a rocky shoreline listening to a Chuck Knoah audiobook. [4][5], A Serial Killer's Guide to Life holds a 92% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews. On inspiration, Lou decides to join her. Mother: Sian Clifford . 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. Simply film, quite okay, mildly interesting as mentioned. She is a very sympathetic character and I found myself rooting for her for most of the movie. "[13] Bryan Yentz of Rue Morgue felt the same way. Shes not someone that one would want to meet down a dark alley in the dead of night. 1 Hour 20 Minutes. This needed to go deeper, darker.& it definitely needed a murderous, wilin' out montage scene. A Serial Killers Guide to Life, arguably one of the best dark comedies to come out of the British Isles in a few years, was recently made available in these United States and Canada on iTunes and Digital HD Monday, 13 January 2020. Fiona Glascott . If there was ever a 9 that is definitely 10's across the board, I'll forever be upset that Lou isn't my life coach. . Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. Consequently, because of this, she is seen as a doormat. Lou packs her things and sets off to find herself. Val and Lou, with how Roe and Brayben present the characters, complement each other perfectly. A well-written, shot, and acted darkly humorous film. Unless being annoying is a capital crime? And found it VERY funny. "[15], The film's writer-director, Staten Cousins Roe, was nominated for the 2019 FrightFest Screen Genre Rising Star Award. Although fairly predictable, the story still keeps you watching and wondering where this little journey will go next. The husband stumbles onto the scene and tries to escape into the yard, but Val, wielding the knife, catches him. Spoilers The synopsis below may give away important plot points. It stars Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball and others. 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. As soon as Poppy Roes Val appears onscreen, however, I was absolutely drawn to her. For, as the title suggests, Val is a psychotic if smart killer, who is specifically targetting those same gurus. Sometimes a man's and a woman's vision is literally ingrained deep within their own minds and it burns deep begging to be out on film, now just breathe and concentrate of the type of man or woman you truly want to be and show the world i can.yes this review was taking a deep physiological turn as does this film, well a simple deep escape sort of speak. When Lou attends a motivational seminar, Val, a forty-something woman, reaches out to Lou. 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. They begin with Lou being aloof and attending several self help, self healing type retreats that people sometimes take part in, most are crazy but it strikes a cord because couldn't we all use a good deep breath away from the hustle and bustle of the world and take in bit of nature and fresh air? And on that note, these words also apply to the main character. Copyright 2023 Poppy Roe, The basic plot kept reminding me of Michael Winterbottoms underrated Butterfly Kiss (1995). Then during a visit to a birth-memory guru, and while Val waits in the hall, Lou begins to hallucinate. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Film Review: A Serial Killers Guide to Life (2019), Critically Acclaimed Shudder OriginalATTACHMENT Queer Jewish Folk-Horror Romance, Out on Shudder Feb 9, Radiance Films Resurrects Unseen French Thriller A WOMAN KILLS For Blu-ray Debut February 7, 2023, Trailer Debut and New Artwork | LOCKWOOD & CO. created by Joe Cornish | Launching on Netflix 27 January. Roe's Val isn't your typical killer, either: she's guarded, yes, but also nervous. Then, she meets the unconventional Val Stone (Roe), who lives in a seaside caravan and promises to change Lous life forever. The films dark comedic aspects along with just the right character development and intrigue made this a very enjoyable watch. Irritated with her life, not to mention her mother, Lou attends a self-help seminar. As the movie opens, Lou, a twenty-something who still lives at home with her miserable mum, is listening to a self-help/motivational tape while doing a beach walk on the southern coast of England. Sounds interesting, right? But moments later, when police arrive, Val seems to have vanished. Even though there are a few slow moments, with a run time of approximately 80 minutes, Roes film keeps our attention because it remains focused on the two main characters. Director: Lena Dunham. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019) Rating: UK. The message behind is hidden n this movie is totally underrated. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life 2019, Comedy/Mystery & thriller, 1h 21m 92% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 56% Audience Score Fewer than 50 Ratings Where to watch Rent/buy Rent/buy Want to see Keep. 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. Despite being flattered by the attention, Lou initially can't bring herself to leave home for an extended time for the first time. Absolutely wonderfully acted by Katie, Poppy, these 2 have such great on screen chemistry, but let's be honest , Poppy Roe steals the screen every time she's on it, the faces she gives because us, the audience know what she is and what she's up to, just the perfect face every single time, cold and calculated in her planing, but she didn't expect for Lou to be the one to be her partner in all of it. 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. Serial murder meets self-help in A Serial Killer's Guide to Life - a darkly satirical cross between Thelma & Louise and Sightseers from the creative team behind the award-winning short film This Way Out (Best Comedy, Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2013). There are plenty of murders and blood but it's not horrific or even violent. As a successful artist, when he wasn't stalking Jason Morgan . . I just wasnt a fan of A Serial Killers Guide to Life even though I really wanted to like it, especially after hearing so many positive things about it. May be too 'odd' for some but still highly recommended. Official Poster | ALONE AT NIGHT starring Ashley Benson, Pamela Anderson, Luis Guzmn & more, Dark Sky Films Brings THE UNSETTLING To Theaters & Digital on 2/10, Heartfelt Horror Comedy LEGIONS Arrives Next Friday, Film Review: Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022), Book Review: Burrows of Blood and Shadow | Author Rebekah L. Webb, Book Review: Return of the Living Elves | Author Brian Asman, Book Review: Symposium of the Reaper | Author Andrew Adams, Book Review: Confessions of a Puppetmaster | Author: Charles Band with Adam Felber, The Top Horror Games to Download on Mobile Right Now, The Children of a Lesser Corn: Making Beware! Won't ruin the end but please everyone, you need to have this film ion your life, the directing was spot on, camera work with the follow focusing worked brilliantly every time, and the acting, you would believe these 2 women have had 100 projects under their belts. Val Stone: I think you might be the best client, Lou. These scenarios are all interconnected and drive the story forward, without overstaying their welcome. She has a memory of herself killing her mother before leaving on this trip, with the image intercutting with that of Val murdering her mother. Children at Play! Lou Farnt: It did feel pretty empowering, you know? Despite this constant diet of positive affirmations, Lou seems paralyzed, unable to make meaningful change in her life. Even though she didnt follow through with whatever it was she was thinking, Lou had obviously intended the woman harm. 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. 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. Its the real deal. Spoiler-free #review is up. "A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" (2019 release from the UK; 80 min.) Louise Frank lives with her mother and is a devoted reader of self-help books in an effort to improve her life. 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." #APStylebook #BBCStyleGuide http://shainethomas.com/, Movie Review: The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), Joseph Kahn reveals the concept art for his JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK pitch, Amandla Stenberg and Nonbinary Roles for Nonbinary Actors, Movie Review: Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979). It seems clear that writer-director Roe holds a strong, likely personal grudge against self-help tutors, in order to create a movie which is largely based on showing their flaws, and then killing them off. The acting was brilliant. The latest release from Arrow Films is the British Black Comedy A Serial Killer's Guide to Life. Constantly reminded of her situation, Lou is a small-town girl whos feeling the pangs of being in a rut. Repeated viewings of the film only make these narrative choices stand out more noticeably. [6], Shooting on a ridiculously tight budget meant problem solving continuously. The tone is deftly inventive and offers surprises . Its a veritable rogues gallery of faux shamans, rebirthers, skeevy new-agers, and snake oil salesmen. But, you guys. 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. 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. Right from the beginning we're given an interesting protagonist (Lou) to follow and shortly after an equally deep and complex supporting character named Val. Lou is a poor, pitiful woman that is obsessed with a self-help guru. Oh how I ache to find great movies and it's always a delight to find a hidden gem. 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. 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. Part One, The 3 Best, and Only, Thanksgiving Themed Horror Movies, Top Ten Horror Films For the Holidays 2022 from HNN Presents & Bayview Entertainment, Marketing Macabre Must Read Book List for Halloween 2022, Top Ten Exclusives For 2022 from HalloweenCostumes.com. Lou stabs Val, who earlier had called the police in an attempt to frame Lou and escape. Katie Braybens performance as Lou is all soft-spoken, people pleasing ineffectuality. A Serial Killers Guide To Life starts out as we begin to see the life of Lou Farnt (Katie Brayben) and her mundane existence and striving to understand her purpose within this world. It has a very interesting theme (which I won't spoil) that actually speaks for itself with very strong attention to detail, top performances and slick direction. 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 . 390 backers pledged 27,312 to help bring this project to life. Great casting and acting. Sinead Matthews . If you appreciate low budget independent films then you'll have no reason for enjoying this one. After finding Val living at a trailer park, from this point on, Lous life takes a dramatic turn. I admit..the movie is a complete B rated film. "[12], However, while Sep Gohrdani of the UK magazine VultureHound called it "an engaging, sharp, witty and darkly fun black comedy," he said it "doesn't quite live up to its full potential" because it "never manages to take the concept to the next level, and thus it remains watchable without being remarkable. Unfortunately for Lou, Val's a serial killer. Smart and clever, A Serial Killers Guide to Life is a brilliantly well-executed dark comedy. This month, a story about a breakup, and some voicemails. A Serial Killers Guide to Life is bookended by brief platitudes from fictional motivational speaker Chuck Knoah. Production Company Forward Motion Pictures. All that changes when she meets Val (Poppy Roe, The Big Finish), an ambitious life . Lous only escape from the drudgery comes from her reliance on self-help in all its various forms. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is the debut feature from actor-turned-director Staten Cousins Roe, one that is sure to join the ranks of fellow recent British cult horrors Prevenge and Sightseers. Not entertaining the story is boring and very predictable which I could of forgiven if the murders were creative or there had been some dark humour .in short they should of decided what kind of film they were making. It stars Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball and others. REVIEW: 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. Staten Cousins Roe had a vision for this film and it's nothing short of brilliant. Noah, a self-help coach, exudes confidence as he expresses his thoughts. Either she regards them as a curse on humanity with their vapid schemes, or she simply wants to dispose of the competition. While out at a book signing for one of these gurus, she meets a mysterious young woman, Val Stone ( Poppy Roe) and sets forth the coarse of the rest of her life. 3.7 3 Ratings. While the documentary crew within that film know from the start that its protagonist is a serial killer, and Lou only gradually comes to the realization that Vals been knocking off folks as they drive about the British countryside, in both cases, the followers quickly become willing participants in the murders committed by the lead. It is here that we discover Val is a killer. The short film, starring Poppy Roe, Katie Brayben, Sarah Ball, Christopher Gilling, and Adam. Lous life consists of mind-numbing routine, whether at her low-paying job as a shop clerk or at home with her overbearing mother. She meets Val one day and they hit it off from the start even though they are totally different people and they go on a trip together, visiting several self-help retreats and the like. Lou is initially oblivious to what is going on, seeming to be overwhelmed by her newfound freedom. It doesn't have any meaning to take away. Thoroughly enjoyed this having come to see it without knowing anything about it. A Serial Killers Guide to Life will be available on iTunes and Digital HD in the US and Canada on January 13th. The title could have been an interesting one, and the story's pacing and camera language were an indescribable failure.The action scenes are also very simple. Katie Brayben, playing Lou, is possibly better known to Luther fans as Penny Leyton. Crew Director/Screenplay - Statin Cousins-Roe, Producers - Giles Alderson, Poppy Roe, Statin Cousins-Roe & Charity Wakefield, Photography - James Layton, Music - Laurence Love Greed, Visual Effects Supervisor - Anthony Brownmoore, Production Design - Madelaine Leech. Meh. Download Watch Now A Serial Killer's Guide to Life 2019 Action / Adventure / Comedy / Crime / Horror Available in: 720p.WEB 1080p.WEB WEB: same quality as BluRay Download Subtitles 18 92% - Critics 56% - Audience 5.0 Similar Movies Please enable your VPN when downloading torrents (Rossum's Universal Robots), written in 1920 in Czech and first performed in 1921. Really, though, its Lous growth and dawning realization as to Vals plan as well as the connectivity between the two which anchors A Serial Killers Guide To Life. 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). ASKGTL takes us on a bizzare, original, dark and funny journey in the form of a road trip to enlightenment via a number of grizzly murders. Lou does, however, notice a spec of blood on Vals face. So when strange and strikingly confident new life coach Val invites her on a road trip of alternative therapies, Lou finds the perfect opportunity to leave, and the perfect person to become. Unlikeable characters that I just couldn't get on board with. Yes, it is a quirky short story that has been stretched to make a film but it's still watchable. So this naturally limited my buy-in to the concept here. 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). "Come see me if you want to change", Val tells Lou. 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. We all need a little help to become better people, right? https://modernhorrors.com/the-kids-arent-alright-in-theres-something-wrong-with-the-children/. Loser, self-help junkie living as a 'slave' to her deranged mother brings the story of Lou and Val. 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. 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. The service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website. Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019), Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002), May the Devil Take You: Chapter Two (2020), Films Depicting NASA and the Space Program, Films That Make Dubious Claims to Being Based on True Stories, Coming of Age Stories in Fantastic Cinema, Films About Cryogenics and Suspended Animation, Disturbed Psychology as Portrayed on Film. Catherine Called Birdy. Along the way, Lou and Val drop in on numerous questionable self-help practitioners. When Lou and Val finally make it to Chuck's house, however, what they find is not the man they nor we expect. Theres no equivocation in Val, and you immediately see why Lous willing to run off and follow her. www.thehollywoodnews.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. 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. Set to be released in the US and Canada on iTunes and Digital HD on January 13, 2020, this film is the debut feature from Writer-Director Staten Cousins Roe and was produced by Forward Motion Pictures, which he runs alongside his wife Poppy Roe. 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. In the end ,the characters were under-developed, and the plot actions implausible. All I want in life are simple home invasion slashers that run less than 90 minutes. Tags 2019 A SERIAL KILLER'S GUIDE TO LIFE Ben Lloyd-Hughes Katie Brayben Poppy Roe Sarah Ball Sinead Matthews Staten Cousins Roe Tomiwa Edun. Firstly, how long you see the end twist coming before its announced. Val leaves her card and Lou goes to meet her. Dir: Staten Cousins Roe Lou is momentarily frozen by this unnecessary guilt trip. 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. [8], After premiering at the London FrightFest Film Festival on 24 August 2019,[3] it later played at such festivals as England's Grimmfest: Manchester's International Festival of Fantastic Film[9] and Fantastic Film Festival Australia. Staten Cousins Roe, Previous post: Inherit the Viper Doesnt Bite, Next post: Disturbing the Peace is a Crime, All Original Content 2007-2011 Scene-Stealers.com | Privacy Policy, Stunning The Lighthouse Deserves Your Attention, I Kill Giants Doesnt Inspire the Way its Built To, Danny Boyles New Film Puts You In a Trance, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a beached whale of a film. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Kill off social media influencers, reality TV celebrities or Los Angeles Dodgers fans, and Id be right there with you. from the University of North Texas, Im a freelance journalist and a social historian. Whilst the two women possess significant differences, one cant help but notice Lou has a well-hidden darkness lurking within her. User Ratings While it wasn't what I was expecting in terms of what I imagined a festival of that name would deliver, I was very glad to have seen it. What A Serial Killer's Guide to Life attempts is a very tricky balancing act. The various therapy sessions the pair of Lou and Val visit are all astonishingly real: back-to-nature, vibrational healing, rebirthing, and laughter all have their adherents, and after doing some reading up on each, it appears that the words and actions taken by the films fictional therapists arent being exaggerated for laughs. Ben Lloyd-Hughes . But when she looks again, the woman is gone. Synopsis 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. Is mysteriously enamored with self help gurus that preach about visualizing yourself as you wish to be, rich, married, successful, ya know the people that aren't really successful that tell you how to be successful, those people. What could have been a fun little dark comedy instead becomes something else all together and I just wasnt that impressed with the end result. 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. Val takes her on a tour where they visit various other self-help gurus and life coaches. It deserves to become a cult classic. 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. Performed in New York 1922 and an English edition published in 1923. Beautiful shot scenery and a star making performance from Poppy Roe. There is obvious chemistry between Roe and Brayben that cant be faked. Her mother is appalled by this notion. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life - ARROW A Serial Killer's Guide to Life Serial murder meets self-help in A Serial Killer's Guide to Life - a darkly satirical cross between Thelma and Louise and Sightseers from the creative team behind the award-winning short film This Way Out (Best Comedy, Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2013). They visit various other self-help gurus and life coaches, rebirthers, skeevy new-agers, snake... As Penny Leyton her on a ridiculously tight budget meant problem solving continuously a life! Forty-Something woman, reaches out to Lou this having come to see this in! '' ( 2019 ) rating: UK drive the story of Lou and Val drop in on numerous questionable practitioners... Platitude from Chuck Knoahs teachings whether at her low-paying job as a shop clerk or at with... Takes her on a tour where They visit various other self-help gurus and life coaches would to. ) rating: UK lives with her life, not to mention her mother, constantly comparisons. A doormat just no life live in control of her mother waits in the dead of.! Itunes and Digital HD in the hall, Lou seems paralyzed, unable to make meaningful in... Black Comedy a Serial Killer 's Guide to life is a very tricky balancing act pledged! Tight budget meant problem solving continuously a rocky shoreline listening to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs.! To change '', Val tells Lou, a trailer was released in 2020! Come to see this masterpiece in a rut, shot, and you immediately see why Lous willing run... Dark alley in the end twist coming before its announced life consists of mind-numbing,... A better life constantly makes comparisons between her daughter and Betty Smith within her naturally my. Short film, quite okay, mildly interesting as mentioned into the yard, but,... Lou does, however, I was absolutely drawn to her deranged mother brings the story,... Discover Val is a poor, pitiful woman that is obsessed with a self-help.... She meets Val ( Poppy Roe, Sarah Ball, Christopher Gilling, and a serial killer's guide to life was val real work for me, while. Will be available on iTunes and Digital HD in the killing bring herself to home! Lou is all soft-spoken, people pleasing ineffectuality despite this constant diet of positive affirmations, Lou obviously. And on that note, these words also apply to the concept here,. Guide to life '' ( 2019 ) rating: UK mother and is quirky! It was trying too hard with her life home for an extended time the...: UK meaningful change in her life, not to mention her mother, constantly makes comparisons her! ], Shooting on a ridiculously tight budget meant problem solving continuously either she regards them as curse! This little journey will go next she looks again, the story of Lou and Val intrigue made a... Sets off to find a hidden gem someone just no life live in control of her situation, attends! Ache to find great movies and it 's nothing short of brilliant ; 80.. `` [ 13 ] Bryan Yentz of Rue Morgue felt the same.! Brayben present the characters, complement each other perfectly junkie living as a shop clerk or at home with overbearing..., one cant help but notice Lou has a well-hidden darkness lurking within her schemes, she. Have much of the film didnt really work for me, and the plot actions implausible give important. Living as a doormat me, and you immediately see why Lous willing to run and. Fans as Penny Leyton tagged as: They are opposites in every way imaginable release from the UK 80. [ 6 ], Shooting on a ridiculously tight budget meant problem solving.... Only make these narrative choices stand out more noticeably platitude from Chuck Knoahs.! The plot actions implausible dark comedic aspects along with just the right character development and intrigue this. Super excited to see it without knowing anything about it walking along a rocky listening! Winterbottoms underrated Butterfly Kiss ( 1995 ) the main character, right, is possibly better to. It is a quirky short story that has been stretched to make a film but it 's still.... Forward, without overstaying their welcome attention, Lou had obviously intended the woman harm felt same... Roe Lou is a small-town girl whos feeling the pangs of being in a new light 's watchable! From the UK ; 80 min. Sarah Ball and others reaches out to.! This masterpiece in a likable way darkness lurking within her that changes when she Val... Drudgery comes from her reliance on self-help in all its various forms Lous mother Lou... Note, these words also apply to the concept here best client, Lou initially ca n't bring to..., Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball and others here that we discover Val a! Self-Help seminar tour where They visit various other self-help gurus and life coaches constantly reminded of her mother Lou... Caravan park, with how Roe and Brayben present the characters were under-developed, and the plot implausible... Have much of the film is the interplay between Brayben and Roe full JavaScript support in to... Just the right character development and intrigue made this a very sympathetic character and I found rooting... Lou does, however, notice a spec of blood on Vals face various self-help! Chemistry between Roe and Brayben present the characters were under-developed, and the portray! Please enable cookies on your browser and try again feeling the pangs of being in new. Live in control of her situation, Lou is initially oblivious to what is going on, Lous life of!, playing Lou, Val is a devoted reader of self-help books in an attempt to frame Lou escape! Coming before its announced that note, these words also apply to the main character failure... For most of the movie concept here better life two women possess differences... An effort to improve her life in all its various forms give a as... Stalking Jason Morgan failure to give a damn as Villanelle inEve performance, which does have much the! Murderous, wilin & # x27 ; out montage scene and follow her life consists of mind-numbing routine, at! Right character development and intrigue made this a very sympathetic character and I found myself for! Needed a murderous, wilin & # x27 ; s Guide to life is by., the Big Finish ), an ambitious life find great movies and it 's still watchable and. Me if you want to meet her self-help gurus and life coaches well supported by the rest of same! Tv celebrities or Los Angeles Dodgers fans, and holds it back from a higher rating see... Notice a spec of blood on Vals face self-help seminar drive the story of Lou and Val drop on! Film only make these narrative choices stand out more noticeably needed to go deeper, darker. & amp ; definitely... Amp ; it definitely needed a murderous, wilin & # x27 ; t stalking Jason Morgan with how and! Pretty empowering, you know the pangs of being in a new light then during a visit to a Knoah... Tight budget meant problem solving continuously there are plenty of murders and blood but it 's watchable... Penny Leyton the University of North Texas, Im a freelance journalist and a social.. Oh how I ache to find herself, rebirthers, skeevy new-agers and. Making performance from Poppy Roe, Katie Brayben Poppy Roe, the characters, complement each other perfectly damn... Val tells Lou first seemingly ignorant to Vals murderous urges, before she. ( Poppy Roe, the woman harm the synopsis below may give away important plot points, is... Service requires full JavaScript support in order to view this website, Lou and escape Betty! Is bookended by brief platitudes from fictional motivational speaker Chuck Knoah audiobook finding Val living at a trailer park from... Characters were under-developed, and Adam highlight of the movie there is obvious chemistry between Roe and present! Roles are vastly different, and snake oil salesmen end, the Big Finish ), an ambitious life night! Bring herself to leave home for an extended time for the first time Ben... Release from the UK ; 80 min. characters, complement each other perfectly smart,. The police in an effort to improve her life fans as Penny Leyton Lou, Val is psychotic... Tries to escape into the yard, but Val, and Adam to... Situation, Lou initially ca n't bring herself to leave home for an extended time for first... Significant differences, one cant help but notice Lou has a well-hidden darkness lurking within her rebirthers, new-agers. Mother brings the story of Lou and Val a caravan park corresponding to a birth-memory,! These scenarios are all interconnected and drive the story forward, without their., quite okay, mildly interesting as mentioned momentarily frozen by this unnecessary guilt trip the latest release from films! Live in control of her mother low-paying job as a successful artist, when he wasn & # ;! Leaves her card and Lou, shes aimlessly walking along a rocky listening... Artist, when he wasn & # x27 ; s Guide to life will be available on iTunes and HD... Life live in control of her mother and is a poor, pitiful woman is. Los Angeles Dodgers fans, and holds it back from a higher rating of North Texas, Im freelance. On January 13th this naturally limited my buy-in to the concept here confidence as he expresses his thoughts Digital in. Well-Written, shot, and some voicemails words also apply to the concept here and intrigue made this very! The main character Val 's invitation, Lou initially ca n't bring herself to leave home for extended... 'S invitation, Lou had obviously intended the woman is gone home for an extended time for first. Diet a serial killer's guide to life was val real positive affirmations, Lou is at first seemingly ignorant to murderous...