Serial Killing 4 Dummys

I liked it. It's certainly not a serious horror movie, as it was advertised on my copy of the dvd. Neither a horror comedy in the usual sense of hilarious gore & splatter. It's in fact more subtle: a nice, low profile comedy that makes you most of the time smile and chuckle, with a little whodunit storyline and an equally small thriller-like finale. Most parts are well acted, with special mention of Thomas Hayden Church, very funny and blatantly over-acting in his role as the shouting gym-teacher. Lisa Loeb is totally endearing as the sweet but slightly weird love-interest of main character Casey, the teen who seriously decides, by want of other professional options after high school, to become a serial killer. Justin Urich does an excellent job, with an appealing, understated way of acting and some nice deadpan humor.

The movie dates from 2004, but looks like it's made in the seventies, and the pace is a bit slow, which particularly shows in the final showdown with the killer, that could have used some better editing. But for the rest: unpretentious entertaining comedy!

It's nice to see Thomas Haden Church doing some work, as his performances are always good. On top of everything- this film was well made, I thought. Cinematography, acting, and the editing. The music wasn't my favorite, in places (check out the White Zomby rip-offs).

I spent most of the movie wondering why Lisa Loeb was there, and wondering why she was in a high school flick, when she'd be in her 30s. She and the Casey character acted quite well, I thought.

Favorite line was was the coach talking about how someone couldn't hide up a rope in a large gymnasium. Not that that's really a cliché (hiding up a rope), but this movie didn't really deconstruct serial killers (sure, it profiled them), as it was a comedy first and foremost and a gore flick somewhere later.

Oh, so THAT'S why they were throwing frisbees...

Don't be mistaken when you read the tag that this movie is indeed a horror movie because it is the furthest thing from it. Casey Noland is destined to become the worlds most notorious serial killer alive following in the steps of what he thinks are "Babe Magnets" Ted Bundy and others like him. But what Casey does not realize is that he is way to nice and good hearted to kill. The truth came out when he went to kill an annoying dog and an old woman on her death bed. The whole plot of the movie is hilarious. His gym teacher played by Thomas Haden Church is a complete jerk to him because Casey is so soft. This movies plot was funny and a pretty descent one when you look at all of the complications it unfolds.

This film seems to have been made on a budget, and took about two years to go from filming to release. And, mysteriously, it looks to be set in 1995, with the way Marilyn Manson is presented. (If it is actually in 2002, the Manson posters and shirts are very out of date.)

Thomas Haden Church is amazing, Lisa Loeb actually pulls off a good look, despite being in her thirties and playing a high school girl. Corey Feldman shows up briefly... so briefly, in fact, it is a wonder why he appears at all.

The plot is great. Some aspects are predictable, others not so much. Anyone who enjoys studying serial killers should enjoy this film, and the gore effects are decent, too. There are a few moments of really bad CGI, but they are not so obnoxious that they cannot be overlooked.

I would not say to go out of your way to see this film, but it really is better than you might expect from the cover. If the purpose of a film is to entertain, this one succeeded.

This movie was surpisingly great....a satire on slashers, school, young love, and right livelihood. Casey Noland sets out to be a killer but ends up a hero. He attempts to defy as many of society's conventions as possible but his inner goodness brings him to a place of true redemption and the possibilities of a good and wonderful future. I really enjoyed this film..not expecting very much starting out but it grows on you with each frame. The director and writer (same) has a true wit and seems to have a removed view of society's conventions; allowing her to create this kind of twisted, unconventional but truly fun piece of off kilter reality slash movie.