THE KILLERS *** USA 2019 Dir: John Woods. 10 mins
Written and produced in ten days for Playhouse West – Philadelphia Film Festival, this short offers an engaging variation on faux-documentary genre films like BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON. An unseen camera crew follows three very different, prolific serial killers, proudly announcing their kill-count so far via on-screen captions.
Frank has 34 confirmed kills and specialises in killing teenage girls with a knife. He’s fond of referencing movies, though Danny (30 kills to date) dismisses Frank’s lack of originality (“He’s like Michael Myers or something!”) and has carved out his own niche murdering people with personality disorders. Meanwhile, Trish waxes lyrical (and sexual) about the final moments of the depressed male victims she preys upon. The movie’s straight-to-camera commentary from murderers is nothing new and there’s no real punchline, but the concept of following the lives of these three very different psychotics has enough potential to warrant expansion to feature length. It’s nicely acted and boasts a toe-tapping soundtrack courtesy of The Monsters, Satan’s Pilgrims and Kip Tyler.
Review by Steven West