Review of I Am Not a Serial Killer

By Dave B.

​I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016, currently on Netflix) follows bullied high school student John Wayne Cleaver (Max Records) as he struggles to resist his budding psychopathy. His self-control is put to the test when a series of gruesome killings in his small Midwestern town forces him to use his murderous instincts to track a killer the likes of which the world has never seen and puts his own sanity into question.

​I thought I knew what I was getting into when I decided to watch I Am Not a Serial Killer. I was completely wrong. Instead of being primarily a serious slasher/thriller, the movie is a blend of dark comedy, low fantasy, and psychological horror. It’s a combination that seems as if it would tough to pull off, but Serial Killer excels in its execution. Even more than the humor, I was impressed with the movie’s performances. Christopher Lloyd is great, as he often is, but Records plays the role of heroic psychopath to near-perfection. It can’t be easy for any actor to make a audiences empathize with a character who is incapable of much empathy, but Records manages it. Kudos to him.

​The body count and general gruesomeness of this film means that it won’t be to everyone’s taste. And at 104 minutes, it occasionally feels a touch long, particularly near the middle of the  movie. But I really enjoyed the combination of its down-to-earth tone and seemingly supernatural elements. Add in the great cast and solid script, and I’m definitely recommending I Am Not a Serial Killer, particularly for viewers who are interested in seeing something unique and who aren’t squeamish. 

Rating: 7/10