As a successful artist, when he wasn't stalking Jason Morgan . It sounds like Val has a score to settle with the self-help expert. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. Metacritic Reviews. 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 latest release from Arrow Films is the British Black Comedy A Serial Killer's Guide to Life. Its not until later that we discover shes a serial killer. 90% of the film. Still, she speaks with enough authority to keep nave Lou in check, even when the truth about her "therapy" is out of the bag. Roe's Val isn't your typical killer, either: she's guarded, yes, but also nervous. 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. I thought she did a wonderful job in the role and she is probably the highlight of the film in my opinion. 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. Well, eventually Lou sees the writing that's on the wall and what Val truly is, and Lou doesn't hold back and ends up this was her journey all along. A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach. If youve met any of these characters (or people who swear by their wares), youll likely have more than a few wry chuckles during these scenes. Life is like a box of chocolates, Noah said, all the crappy ones get left behind.. 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. As the road trip continues, the body count increases. Ill admit that the premise sounds promising. Val says she is departing on a journey the next morning. Whos played? Had the pleasure of viewing A Serial Killers Guide to Life and Grimmfest this year followed by a Q&A with its director and it's certainly been a film to make a lasting impression. On the plus side I did think that the cast was excellent. When Lou and Val finally make it to Chuck's house, however, what they find is not the man they nor we expect. Katie Brayben, playing Lou, is possibly better known to Luther fans as Penny Leyton. The Science Fiction Horror and Fantasy Film Review. Colin encouraged me after watching a rough cut, giving some golden advice. We also kindly got edit notes from Julian Doyle (editor of Brazil, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail), which supported the comic timing beautifully. 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. There, Lou describes a road trip of discovery she is taking the next day, and insinuates that Lou should join her. Personally, less than Id have expected. 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. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is structured in vignettes, each one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoah's teachings. Lou takes her up and next thing we know, they hit the road At this point we are 10 min. Our guide to the cast and characters of Mindhunter season 2, including the real-life versions of agents and serial killers featured in the show. In which case a lot of people are in trouble. Unlikeable characters that I just couldn't get on board with. Great casting and acting. [4][5] The film received favorable reviews.[2]. "Visualize who you want to become!" Support. 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. She didnt give a fig, and seemed to be an even sharper-edged version of Phoebe Waller Bridges Fleabag (although that might be due to Fleabags Sian Clifford in a role as a rebirthing coach). We all need a little help to become better people, right? 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. Ffs, that's coming-of-age, road-trip movie-making 101! A Serial Killers Guide To Life follows Lou Farnt (Katie Brayben): a 30-something, self-help addict who wants nothing more than to escape her overly controlling mother and the dead-end seaside town where she grew up. But, you guys. All that changes when she meets Val (Poppy Roe, The Big Finish), an ambitious life . Movie Review, 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. Val makes her an offer to be Lou's life coach and is going along for the ride. nice but fake and terribly nonsense in this society. The real highlight of the film is the interplay between Brayben and Roe. That it mostly succeeds in this balance is down to the unfussy, firm hand of writer/director Staten Cousins Roe. Ben Lloyd-Hughes . The movie really needs to buy into this concept considerably further, rather than gently nodding its head. Apple Inc. Lou packs her things and sets off to find herself. 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. This unique little film does not get enough credit. 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. Her mother is appalled by this notion. 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. I absolutely loved it. 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). Katie Brayben, It doesnt help that Maureen, Lous mother, constantly makes comparisons between her daughter and Betty Smith. Todd Martin Lou stabs Val, who earlier had called the police in an attempt to frame Lou and escape. In Message, a man leaves several voicemails on an ex-girlfriend's phone to gloat. This is where she meets a mysteriously alluring woman named Val Stone (Poppy Roe). Quite simply a great piece of work. 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. I didnt think that things got particularly interesting until maybe the last 20 minutes or so and I am still not sure if I liked the big twist at the end or not as it reminded me of the ending of High Tension in a lot of ways (which I despised and feel ruined the entire movie for me). 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. You're the best life coach ever, Val. I enjoyed Roes performance, which does have much of the same failure to give a damn as Villanelle inEve. The film establishes well the banality of Katie Braybens dull nowhere life in Brighton, England amid caravan parks and dreary beachfront pavilions; her home life with her mother having to scrub her back in the bath at one point which sits at pointed contrast to the clichs of the positive thinking tapes Katie ingests. New adventure is an escape and Val is just dark side of the actress. 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. Her indecision passes quickly. Cheddar Goblin is my co-pilot. There are plenty of murders and blood but it's not horrific or even violent. The film has on several occasions been compared to Ben Wheatleys Sightseers, and it is similar in tone and presentation. Mother: Sian Clifford . [2], Lorry Kikta of Film Threat wrote "[a] bone-dry dark horror-comedy, A Serial Killers Guide to Life, is I Heart Huckabees meets American Psycho by way of Thelma and Louise. The film was a directorial debut for Statin Cousins-Roe. Val Stone: I think you might be the best client, Lou. Poppy Roe and her drama-school schoolmate Katie Brayben starred. Tagged as: I wasnt expecting this movie to be a slasher flick or anything, but I was hoping there would have been a lot more death scenes and action in general. 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). She allows people to walk all over her. 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. Run time: 1h 48m. . When you give yourself over to possibility, anything can and will happen, Noah said in a voiceover. I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this at Frightfest this year in London. 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. Watch. Overall, A Serial Killers Guide to Life is an assured, if slightly flawed, feature debut. When James Franco made his soap opera debut in 2009, it was as a serial killer named Franco on ABC's General Hospital. "[15], The film's writer-director, Staten Cousins Roe, was nominated for the 2019 FrightFest Screen Genre Rising Star Award. Give this movie a go if you have a dark sense of humor. However, it is very entertaining. Your email address will not be published. Noah, a self-help coach, exudes confidence as he expresses his thoughts. Stuff happens. Despite a final-act story beat that may not resonate with all viewers, A Serial Killers Guide to Life is a worthwhile pitch-black comedy with engaging character work from its two leads. With the film being set in the British Isles, I think the more appropriate term would be solicitor. It must be frustrating to have a mother that constantly observes how little one has accomplished. 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. If you are a life-coach you won't like it! Val has a body in the trunk of her car, and the pair will leave many more in their wake. At home, Lou discusses this opportunity with her mother over dinner. Irritated with her life, not to mention her mother, Lou attends a self-help seminar. I think my biggest problem with the film is that it is just more boring than anything. "A Serial Killer's Guide To Life follows Lou Farnt (Katie Brayben): a 30-something, . Addicted to self-help guides and guru's Lou becomes beguiled by a mysterious women (Val) who seems to have it all, amazing self confidence, clear life goals and a action plan to achieve them. All this changes on the day that Louise meets Val (Poppy Roe, who also edited and produced), a self-proclaimed life coach. If you appreciate low budget independent films then you'll have no reason for enjoying this one. After they do so, we see the dead bodies of Ben and the attendees, their heads bashed in. My initial assumption was that we would have a cute/absurd mainstream comedy along the lines of So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) or Serial Mom (1994). Weve seen this story beat used more effectively in other films. 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. Gore hounds may wish for more of the red stuff, but fans of Sightseers (or anyone whos ever been subjected to someones discussion of their rebirthing experience) will find grim amusement to be had here. She befriends Val at one of the many self-help meetings she attends and the two decide to take a little trip together. "[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. As the pair set off after item 3 begins, a boom mic is clearly reflected in the windows of the car. Show me something really scary. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Betty, according to her mother, is a lawyer. It does have a great cast and all (which is probably its biggest strength), but overall, I just didnt think that it was anything special and I was left feeling more than a little underwhelmed after everything was said and done. 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. External Reviews A SERIAL KILLER'S GUIDE TO LIFE will be released on iTunes and Digital HD January 13, 2020. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. Netflix's gripping serial killer drama series Mindhunter has finally returned for season 2, and we've put together a guide to show's cast, and what the real versions of Mindhunter's characters looked like. A gun-wielding Val chases Lou to the edge of a cliff, and there they have a final meeting-of-the-minds as police sirens and a helicopter close in. Its a veritable rogues gallery of faux shamans, rebirthers, skeevy new-agers, and snake oil salesmen. Marcus (Owain Rhys Davies), the vibrational healer and his herbal relaxant certainly needed that bread knife. Whilst the two women possess significant differences, one cant help but notice Lou has a well-hidden darkness lurking within her. Copyright 2023 The other issue is how much this bothers you. Self-help addict Lou (Katie Brayben . 1/2 Star: Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball. For, as the title suggests, Val is a psychotic if smart killer, who is specifically targetting those same gurus. Internet Service Terms Val leaves her card and Lou goes to meet her. I recommend watchin it. 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). On route to their first stop, a nature therapy session, Val kills the petrol station attendee off-camera. That's where life coaches come in. You think you know, but you have no idea. CookiePolicy This month, a story about a breakup, and some voicemails. [Brayben and Roe] portray these irredeemable characters in a likable way. 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). Image: Alex Bailey/Prime Video. Quirky and tightly written, well acted and filmed despite a ridiculously low budget. RELATED: Soap Opera Couples Who Dated In Real Life. seeks escape with mysterious 'Val' her new life coach. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. The script here is simply too gentle for the subject matter, not least with much of the violence happening off-screen. | Smart and clever, A Serial Killers Guide to Life is a brilliantly well-executed dark comedy. Lou, in contrast to Val, is meekly awkward. What is the Spanish language plot outline for A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019)? 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. Lous only escape from the drudgery comes from her reliance on self-help in all its various forms. The actress also appeared in the 2017 Doctor Who episode Oxygen. Theres no equivocation in Val, and you immediately see why Lous willing to run off and follow her. 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. Loser, self-help junkie living as a 'slave' to her deranged mother Don't turn it off early as it's worth watching through to the end. Val Stone: Yeah. Its the real deal. When Lou attends a motivational seminar, Val, a forty-something woman, reaches out to Lou. As the road trip continues, the body count increases. On the one hand, as a horror, it demands a taut, lean, thrill-ride, on the other, as a road movie, it would suggest a meandering, spiritual journey. 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. 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. Val, something that makes the character feel familiar, has a positively sinister aura around her. Created by Poppy Roe Poppy Roe. I admit..the movie is a complete B rated film. 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. The same can be said for Poppy Roe as she does a great job bringing the character of Val to life. | Nature Therapy Ben. Almost pumping into a man walking in the opposite direction, she is immediately brought out of her bubble. The self help guide to end all self help guides. SYNOPSIS: Lou is a poor, pitiful woman that is obsessed with a self-help guru. Instead of your standard "Thelma and Louise" message against patriarchy, Lou and Val travel across the country attending self help groups and murdering the leaders. 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