Cyrus

Aside from a few interesting performances from various cast members, CYRUS: MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER has virtually nothing going for it. You'd be better of going with alternative serial killer titles like HENRY LEE LUCAS: SERIAL KILLER or DEAR MR. GACY as at least these are films which attempt to tell a proper story rather than this nonsensical, made-up amateur-hour attempt.

The film begins with an elderly man being interviewed for a documentary about a serial killer. Kudos on the casting director for getting hold of Scream Queen Danielle Harris to play the reporter, but truth be told her acting isn't up to much. However, the subject of the interview is played by Lance Henriksen, who also narrates the story; he's by far the best thing in the whole film and I could listen to his gravelly voice all day. It's a shame that most of the material is beneath him.

After a mildly promising set-up in the first half-hour, this turns into a very silly gore flick with one grisly murder after another. It all feels very ho hum and uninteresting, repellent but not disturbing; just a waste of time and effort. Tiffany Shepis and Doug Jones both pop up to offer cameo appearances and lessen the boredom, but this is still one of the worst serial killer movies I've sat through. The most amusing thing about the film is that the whole thing seems to hinge around a final twist that will be obvious from the very first scene.

Dumb and predictable... sums up this indie serial killer feature. Sure even with those descriptions, you could get some sort of entertainment, yet this film wallows in its own stark nastiness. While technically competent, even if it looks like it was shot hand held, what brought "CYRUS MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER" down is that it defies logic and most notably common sense.

I don't know if I've come across such a dense character in a role that you wouldn't expect, as this story hungry investigative TV reporter (played by a spunky Danielle Harris) seems to discard ("Oh there's no way he's a killer") obvious evidence that should be enough of a red flag to be quite weary. Instead the script plays up the stupidity, where the actions become largely questionable to the point of finding it insulting. From this aspect you know where it's going to lead, in what feels like all build-up to its contrived reveal. There's not all that much to figure out and that's within the first 10 minutes.

Supposedly based upon true facts ("The County Line Cannibal"), this film at times plays out like a semi faux-documentary as it intercuts to unrelated interview footage of doctors, psychologists, authorities, victims and killers giving some sort of pointless insight into the origin of what makes a serial killer tick to truly grasp where they are coming from. Those moments are probably more interesting than Harris' reporter tracking down a local man (an unnerving Lance Henriksen) who claims to have information about the unsolved disappearance of 200 Midwestern University students. He goes on to tell her the killer's name (Cyrus), that they were friends and the horrific details of Cyrus' crimes from how it all began.

Most of the narrative is about us learning of Cyrus (Brian Krause), from what pushed him over the edge, getting into his disturbed mind (mummy issues) and watching him psychically and mentally torturing his captives. I wasn't particularly sold on the sloppy skin-deep characterization and of Krause's' psychotic performance, but there are a couple moments that have grimy shock value in their attempts to make you uncomfortable. Now the cannibal side of the story barely scrapes the surface, yet that was the most engaging facet, as he butchered his captives alive, feeding them to his grill house customers. How's that for ya?

Rae Dawn Chong makes a cameo appearance as one of interviewees and Tiffany Shepis shows up in a few flashback scenes as killer's unpleasant mother. After the end credits have rolled, it finishes on another one of those faux-interviews with chilling (if already well-known) info on some of the infamous serial killers of America.

A small independent news crew investigates a series of unexplained disappearances in a small Midwestern county.

This film will be a treat for those who love horror icons. Brian Krause ("Sleepwalkers") stars as Cyrus, with plenty of screen time for Danielle Harris as Maria and Lance Henriksen as Emmett. Even Doug Jones and Tiffany Shepis show up for a while.

This film has received some criticism for not being very original and following old horror movie, especially slasher, clichés. And yes, it does have some. But I think this was sort of the point... clearly the writer-director is a horror fan based on his casting, so he must have been paying homage to his favorites. This is no different than what Rob Zombie did with "House of 1000 Corpses" (though that one was a little too blatant in my opinion).

The film claims to be based on true events, which I strongly suspected was completely false. I called out director Mark Vadik on this, and he set the record straight: it is, in fact, based very loosely on the life of serial killer Fritz Haarmann, with some background details of other serial killers thrown in. So, I suppose, we have to let this slide. (I strongly urge you to look into Haarmann's story -- it is pretty graphic, and a closer telling would be an amazingly demented film.)

Vadik also informed me that the claim of the film being banned in six countries is true. They are ones you might expect -- United Arab Emirates and the Middle Eastern countries -- but this is still a cool claim. While any number of reasons could be behind the ban, there is one sequence involving breast feeding that likely got some people's heckles raised.

Check this one out. This is a breakout role for Brian Krause, who was already a big star from "Charmed". He spent much time researching killers -- particularly BTK and the Green River Killer -- for this role, and even did much of the second unit directing, picking up important shots of death scenes. His work is subtle, but the reason the film is good rather than forgettable.

This movie is my go to movie when someone wants to see a classic indie movie, serial killer, type movie. I always reccomend this one... everytime. It like the Human Centipede, which is a classic in its own right... huh, well this is the same boat/situation as that so to speak. Some people like it, some people hate it, but you can't stop watching it, and end up watching the whole thing! If there was a sequel too, I'm sure I would have watched that, and the prequel! Haha just like I did the Human centipede franchise, you know what I mean? Trust me! Watch it with no expectations and you will find it to be a great movie. I absolutely love it.

Making the film fest circus-circuit in 2010-11 is this sophomoric attempt at lashing out at...(surprise) mostly sophomore co-eds (with copious, bounteous, bouncing breasts thrown in for TIT-ilation, but hardly good measure-ments, or taste!).

The slogan should read: "Schocking, Schoddy Schlasher Schlock!" (but vibrantly filmed..."In Color", as they used to say in '60s television shows). And the claim that it is "Based on a True Story"? Really? What "true story" is that?

A promising if rather predictable start quickly degrades into bloody foot chase scenes with a Sweeney Todd-(un)inspired meat sales counter display (yuck-yuck!...biggest "Raccoon Steak" on a platter that I've ever seen though--that sucker must have come in at 400 lbs!).

Ten to fifteen minutes (and I'm being Gandhi-like in my generosity here) into this master(bater)piece, however, it it quickly degrades (if that is possible) into a tedious and almost-but-not-quite-nor-intentional comical (or is it insulting?) Karo syrup slopping. My friends and I lost interest and walked out at the 20 minute mark (following the "20 Minute Rule"--if the movie can't stand up in the first 20 minutes, it's likely that it won't redeem itself in the last 20 minutes).

If it would have been presented in a tongue-in-cheek "Cannibal"-style musical, it might possibly have been at least marginally entertaining (if not another copy of slasher parody/scary movie films). As it stands, however, I'd rather chew aluminum foil than sit through this "schtinker" to the very end!

SCHKIP IT!!!