2020, 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." 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. Val has a body in the trunk of her car, and the pair will leave many more in their wake. It was a fast and furious shoot, often getting one take and moving on. Lou does, however, notice a spec of blood on Vals face. On route to their first stop, a nature therapy session, Val kills the petrol station attendee off-camera. 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. Val makes her an offer to be Lou's life coach and is going along for the ride. This is where she meets a mysteriously alluring woman named Val Stone (Poppy Roe). 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. Loser, self-help junkie living as a 'slave' to her deranged mother 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. She is a very sympathetic character and I found myself rooting for her for most of the movie. Val, something that makes the character feel familiar, has a positively sinister aura around her. Low budget film making at its level best. A Serial Killers Guide to Life is structured in vignettes, each one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs teachings. 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. I just loved it. Image: Alex Bailey/Prime Video. 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. We never get much insight into what makes it particularly empowering, since theres no sense of catharsis for Lou. Few films come along with a director, actors, actresses, producers, that will give that big wow factor while pitching the project to a major studio. The short film, starring Poppy Roe, Katie Brayben, Sarah Ball, Christopher Gilling, and Adam. When we first meet Lou, shes aimlessly walking along a rocky shoreline listening to a Chuck Knoah audiobook. In the space of just a few moments, the film provides a clear sense of Louises character and her mundane struggles. Quite simply a great piece of work. The message behind is hidden n this movie is totally underrated. Constantly reminded of her situation, Lou is a small-town girl whos feeling the pangs of being in a rut. 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. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. After premiering at film festivals in 2019, A Serial Killer's Guide to Life was released by Arrow Films to digital media / video on demand on 13 January 2020,[1] including the streaming channels Amazon Prime and Hulu and the cable channel Showtime. But when she looks again, the woman is gone. A Serial Killers Guide to Life is bookended by brief platitudes from fictional motivational speaker Chuck Knoah. There is nothing quite like a bloodcurdling film that makes one giggle and tremble at the same time. It doesn't look like it was made with a ton of money and one can see where the corners were cut but it only adds to the brilliance, in my view. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is structured in vignettes, each one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoah's teachings. 1 Hour 20 Minutes. Though that may reflect the films general lack of impact. The cinematography is notable, particularly in capturing the rural settings. However, after taking some time to reflect upon it, I really got the sense that Roes influence was more akin to the Rmy Belvaux, Andr Bonzel and Benot Poelvoorde 1992 Belgian film Man Bites Dog. The two finally arrive at Chuck Knoah's estate. Unless being annoying is a capital crime? If youve ever wondered what the title characters of Thelma (Geena Davis) & Louise (Susan Sarandon) would be like if they were serial killers, this would be it. And a little murder a lot of murder. As the pair set off after item 3 begins, a boom mic is clearly reflected in the windows of the car. Whilst the two women possess significant differences, one cant help but notice Lou has a well-hidden darkness lurking within her. Lifelong horror fan, former projectionist & video store clerk. seeks escape with mysterious 'Val' her new life coach. The next morning, Val hurries Lou to leave. Lou unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach.. This is a film where I didnt know which way it would go at the outset. The film was a directorial debut for Statin Cousins-Roe. Repeated viewings of the film only make these narrative choices stand out more noticeably. The film has on several occasions been compared to Ben Wheatleys Sightseers, and it is similar in tone and presentation. She seeks escape from one self-help guru after another, spending her money on their books, DVDs and audio-tapes, though with little or no apparent positive results. Val says she is departing on a journey the next morning. 2019. 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. The self help guide to end all self help guides. "Come see me if you want to change", Val tells Lou. It doesn't have any meaning to take away. Like several other Grimmfest films, A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is a debut feature for its writer/director, Staten Cousins-Roe, and he has created something very much his own here: the dry, sarcastic humor, the innocent inspired to find "empowerment" sure, we've seen these things before, but not combined like this. In Winterbottoms film, Reeves was dragged along by a deranged Amanda Plummer. 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. 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 . My main question after watching it? I found myself a mentor in Colin Goudie (editor of Monsters and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), who I met on an editing workshop he spoke at. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is based on Roe's 2013 much-acclaimed short film This Way Out. 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. Hence, a 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. This unique little film does not get enough credit. 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. 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. 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. It stars Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball and others. "[11] James Perkins of Starburst wrote "Satire is very difficult to do - especially when trying to find the balance of telling an interesting story and also being respectful to anyone affected by the source material. 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. Katie Braybens performance as Lou is all soft-spoken, people pleasing ineffectuality. Apple TV & Privacy Director: Lena Dunham. Whos played? But how much you get out of it may depend on two things. When Val does start killing people none of the death scenes are really that memorable and most of them take place off screen for the most part. Smart and clever, A Serial Killers Guide to Life is a brilliantly well-executed dark comedy. In like so many low budget independent films It has attitude and style in abundance thanks to Staten's sharp writing and confident directing as well as a great story together with a brilliant cast who all absolutly nail their roles. SYNOPSIS: Lou is a poor, pitiful woman that is obsessed with a self-help guru. User Ratings Most of the films kills are not overly violent, focusing on the end result as opposed to an abundance of gore. Movie Review, The actress also appeared in the 2017 Doctor Who episode Oxygen. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. | This is just further proof that you cant trust anyone online. 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. Noah, a self-help coach, exudes confidence as he expresses his thoughts. Star: Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball. "[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. #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). Lou is momentarily frozen by this unnecessary guilt trip. They are opposites in every way imaginable. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. After some qualms, she agrees to depart with Lou, whodoes indeed deliver on her promise. Wanting something better, Lou follows the teachings of various self-help gurus, but especially that of Chuck Knoah. A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach. Still, she speaks with enough authority to keep nave Lou in check, even when the truth about her "therapy" is out of the bag. The next day, Lou leaves with Val in a car, for the purpose of visiting various types of self-help gurus for research. Brayben as Lou is so very, very sad sack in films opening scenes that watching Roes film, one has a difficult time warming up to her. New adventure is an escape and Val is just dark side of the actress. 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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. The same can be said for Poppy Roe as she does a great job bringing the character of Val to life. 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. 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. 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. Writer and director Staten Cousins Roe sets the stage for his feature debut before introducing us to one of the films leads, Louise (Katie Brayben). Cleopatra Entertainment Unleashes The Long Dark Trail on Blu-ray/DVD! "A Serial Killer's Guide To Life follows Lou Farnt (Katie Brayben): a 30-something, . Created by Poppy Roe Poppy Roe. Lou and Val leave their car behind and take the couple's minivan. 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. 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). Quirky and tightly written, well acted and filmed despite a ridiculously low budget. The two struggle, and Val is being overpowered when Lou kills the husband. Almost pumping into a man walking in the opposite direction, she is immediately brought out of her bubble. Val leaves her card and Lou goes to meet her. The husband stumbles onto the scene and tries to escape into the yard, but Val, wielding the knife, catches him. I'll be honest, I didn't enjoy the film's storyline all that much, but I thought the scenery and film crafting was excellent - well shot and edited. Unlikeable characters that I just couldn't get on board with. When Lou attends a motivational seminar, Val, a forty-something woman, reaches out to Lou. But her mother's emotional abusiveness changes her mind. TV Shows. Production Company Forward Motion Pictures. Val Stone: Sarah Ball . It is also possible to buy "A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" on Microsoft Store . All that changes when she meets Val (Poppy Roe, The Big Finish), an ambitious life . What's on TV & Streaming Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Browse TV Shows by Genre TV News India TV Spotlight. The character work between Lou and Val is the real highlight, along with the pitch-black humor. Val Stone: Yeah. Spoilers The synopsis below may give away important plot points. 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. 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. Nick is a self-described rock star journalist, which is strange, considering hes married with two kids and three cats. Note: not if, when. Val urges Lou to kill her. I thought she did a wonderful job in the role and she is probably the highlight of the film in my opinion. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is a . 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. Your email address will not be published. Cheddar Goblin is my co-pilot. Val Stone. www.thehollywoodnews.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. However, it is very entertaining. Though Lou is at first seemingly ignorant to Vals murderous urges, before long she joins in the killing. Katie Brayben really stands out as Lou and you cant help but feel for her. Recent good dark comedy. Her mother is appalled by this notion. A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach. . 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. 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. Rarely does an independent film really strike cords on all levels but this truly takes the cake. So this naturally limited my buy-in to the concept here. Shes not someone that one would want to meet down a dark alley in the dead of night. Oh how I ache to find great movies and it's always a delight to find a hidden gem. 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. Meh. Lou is a pitiful woman that most people (including her overbearing mother) treat like garbage and she just takes it and tries to go on with her life. https://bit.ly/3iEQTqW, Theres Something Wrong with the Children has a lot more going on for it than your average creepy-kid #horror #movie. 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. 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). There is obvious chemistry between Roe and Brayben that cant be faked. [4][5], A Serial Killer's Guide to Life holds a 92% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 13 reviews. www.thehollywoodnews.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. 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. Run time: 1h 48m. Please enable cookies on your browser and try again. 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). Metacritic Reviews. Betty, according to her mother, is a lawyer. Lover of good beer, bourbon, and horror flicks. Check it out if it sounds like something you might be into, maybe youll see something in it that I didnt. A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach. In the play, the word refers to artificially created . Thoroughly enjoyed this having come to see it without knowing anything about it. Its the real deal. Lou packs her things and sets off to find herself. Quintessentially British filmmaking with a heart. Motivational speakers? 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. Children at Play! Ffs, that's coming-of-age, road-trip movie-making 101! Marcus (Owain Rhys Davies), the vibrational healer and his herbal relaxant certainly needed that bread knife. The following morning, Val stabs the wife to death, with Lou witnessing the aftermath. A Serial Killers Guide to Life will be available on iTunes and Digital HD in the US and Canada on January 13th. 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