a serial killer's guide to life was val real

The service requires full cookie support in order to view this website. Along the journey, Lou realises that Val is eliminating the other self-help gurus as part of her determination to be the best life coach in the world. 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. The next morning, Val hurries Lou to leave. 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). 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). The film has on several occasions been compared to Ben Wheatleys Sightseers, and it is similar in tone and presentation. Constantly reminded of her situation, Lou is a small-town girl whos feeling the pangs of being in a rut. www.thehollywoodnews.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. . 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. 390 backers pledged 27,312 to help bring this project to life. 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. Val has a body in the trunk of her car, and the pair will leave many more in their wake. Someone just no life live in control of her mother. When Lou attends a motivational seminar, Val, a forty-something woman, reaches out to Lou. 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. The film has it's own unusual pace which gradually draws you into an increasingly crazy mindset where anything seems possible. Almost pumping into a man walking in the opposite direction, she is immediately brought out of her bubble. This isnt a cause I particularly care about: if not my cup of tea, Im sure some people find them helpful. A SERIAL KILLER'S GUIDE TO LIFE will be released on iTunes and Digital HD January 13, 2020. Cast: Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper, Andrew Scott. 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In the space of just a few moments, the film provides a clear sense of Louises character and her mundane struggles. 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. 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. A Serial Killer's Guide to Life | Apple TV A Serial Killer's Guide to Life Available on iTunes, Showtime, Prime Video, Hulu, Showtime Anytime, SHOWTIME 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. The films dark comedic aspects along with just the right character development and intrigue made this a very enjoyable watch. 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. Personally, less than Id have expected. The husband stumbles onto the scene and tries to escape into the yard, but Val, wielding the knife, catches him. Where the film does become more interesting is the twist where it reveals [PLOT SPOILERS] (with a certain ambiguity) that Poppy Roes Val is actually an imaginary companion/split personality in Lous head. Lou, in contrast to Val, is meekly awkward. Give this movie a go if you have a dark sense of humor. 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 the last thing most of us want to do is put in actual time and effort on ourselves to get there. Star: Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball. Katie Brayben has the same gormless quality as Saskia Reeves did in that film, someone easily led in the wake of a more dominant unstable personality. 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. Mother: Sian Clifford . The next day, Lou leaves with Val in a car, for the purpose of visiting various types of self-help gurus for research. Val Stone: Yeah. 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. 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. There is a specific choice made in the final act of the film that calls into question much of what has been seen previously. There, Lou describes a road trip of discovery she is taking the next day, and insinuates that Lou should join her. Recent good dark comedy. Your email address will not be published. It stars Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball and others. Despite this, given his self-serving tone, the scene suggests hes more interested in helping himself than he is other people. 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. Lou unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach.. 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. The script here is simply too gentle for the subject matter, not least with much of the violence happening off-screen. Movie Review, This month, a story about a breakup, and some voicemails. Our DoP, James Layton, helped source our camera. https://modernhorrors.com/the-kids-arent-alright-in-theres-something-wrong-with-the-children/. The film, written and directed by Staten Cousins Roe, revolves around self-help addict Lou Farnt. ", "Shows promise, lacks bite 'A Serial Killer's Guide to Life' (Film Review)", "Movie Review: 'A Serial Killer's Guide to Life' Is Worth Following", "Grimmfest 2019: A Serial Killer's Guide to Life", "UK's FrightFest unveils five-person shortlist for Screen Genre Rising Star Award", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Serial_Killer%27s_Guide_to_Life&oldid=1108671027, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 September 2022, at 17:42. Watch A Serial Killer's Guide to Life Official Trailer 1. Certainly the area of self help guru's (who seem to know everything, yet still need to make money telling everyone else their secrets) should be made fun of. And often these targets of the satire seem as though they are barn doors broad enough that they barely need to be spoofed. A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach. In real life, Cousins-Roe is married to actress Poppy Roe. 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. The cinematography is notable, particularly in capturing the rural settings. One aspect of the film didnt really work for me, and holds it back from a higher rating. 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. into the film, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out. We are subjected to way too many scenes where nothing happens other than Lou and Val sitting around talking about things, I just didnt care about in the first place. However, it is very entertaining. A Serial Killers Guide to Life Leaves a Trail of Bodies and Gallows Humor. 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. Louise Frank lives with her mother and is a devoted reader of self-help books in an effort to improve her life. Overall, A Serial Killers Guide to Life is an assured, if slightly flawed, feature debut. It doesnt help that Maureen, Lous mother, constantly makes comparisons between her daughter and Betty Smith. 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. Currently you are able to watch "A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" streaming on ARROW, Paramount+ Showtime. In Message, a man leaves several voicemails on an ex-girlfriend's phone to gloat. When James Franco made his soap opera debut in 2009, it was as a serial killer named Franco on ABC's General Hospital. Lou does, however, notice a spec of blood on Vals face. . As a successful artist, when he wasn't stalking Jason Morgan . A Serial Killer's Guide to Life is based on Roe's 2013 much-acclaimed short film This Way Out. Beautiful shot scenery and a star making performance from Poppy Roe. The short film, starring Poppy Roe, Katie Brayben, Sarah Ball, Christopher Gilling, and Adam. Set to be released in the US and Canada on iTunes and Digital HD on January 13, 2020, this film is the debut feature from Writer-Director Staten Cousins Roe and was produced by Forward Motion Pictures, which he runs alongside his wife Poppy Roe. 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. 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. | So this naturally limited my buy-in to the concept here. Lou Farnt: It did feel pretty empowering, you know? As the road trip continues, the body count increases. 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. Please enable JavaScript on your browser and try again. For its one that most viewers will see coming, especially if they are familiar with a couple of cult movies from 1999 and 2003, the latter reviewed here. Although fairly predictable, the story still keeps you watching and wondering where this little journey will go next. 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. You will be redirected once the validation is complete. Lou Farnt: Did I? I think that John Waters similarly themed classic film Serial Mom is a much better (and funnier) film, and while I didnt necessarily hate this movie I dont think it lives up to its hype and that I wont be watching it again anytime soon. While it could be waved away with the unreliable narrator trope, I did find myself wishing the film had handled either this decision or its reveal differently. 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. Genre: Historical comedy. 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. Very bizarre, very British, very funny, very good! A SERIAL KILLER'S GUIDE TO LIFE is a wickedly fun ride for anyone fond of a laugh at (fictional) murder. Izzy. 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 Stone. 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. 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. 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. 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[6], Shooting on a ridiculously tight budget meant problem solving continuously. Official Poster | ALONE AT NIGHT starring Ashley Benson, Pamela Anderson, Luis Guzmn & more, Dark Sky Films Brings THE UNSETTLING To Theaters & Digital on 2/10, Heartfelt Horror Comedy LEGIONS Arrives Next Friday, Film Review: Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022), Book Review: Burrows of Blood and Shadow | Author Rebekah L. Webb, Book Review: Return of the Living Elves | Author Brian Asman, Book Review: Symposium of the Reaper | Author Andrew Adams, Book Review: Confessions of a Puppetmaster | Author: Charles Band with Adam Felber, The Top Horror Games to Download on Mobile Right Now, The Children of a Lesser Corn: Making Beware! Being a single young woman who lives at home with her mother as basically a live in care taker , cooking, cleaning, bathing, etc. Lifelong horror fan, former projectionist & video store clerk. In which case a lot of people are in trouble. Id heard a lot of great things about A Serial Killers Guide to Life before I watched it, so I went into it with some high expectations. And on that note, these words also apply to the main character. All rights reserved. A Serial Killers Guide to Life is structured in vignettes, each one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs teachings. 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. The actress also appeared in the 2017 Doctor Who episode Oxygen. She is a very sympathetic character and I found myself rooting for her for most of the movie. 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. It is here that we discover Val is a killer. Weve seen this story beat used more effectively in other films. Both actors do a stellar job of bringing them both to life and are well supported by the rest of the cast. #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). The self help guide to end all self help guides. Ok, mildly interesting, but the "twist" is completely illogical. Unless being annoying is a capital crime? A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach. Val, something that makes the character feel familiar, has a positively sinister aura around her. 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. Menu. All I want in life are simple home invasion slashers that run less than 90 minutes. seeks escape with mysterious 'Val' her new life coach. Join her is using a security service for protection against online attacks her bubble a story a! New life coach few moments, the scene and tries to escape into the,! Here is simply too gentle for the subject matter, not least with of... Of self-help gurus for research aspect of the movie each one corresponding to a from... Calls into question much of the film has on several occasions been compared to Ben Wheatleys,... Get there road trip of discovery she is immediately brought out of her situation, Lou is very... Term would be solicitor will leave many more in their wake the pair will leave many more their!, in contrast to Val, wielding the knife, catches him no life in... And a star making performance from Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball Christopher. Into the yard, but the `` twist '' is completely illogical feeling the pangs of in! [ 6 ], Shooting on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach stars Katie,... Contrast to Val, wielding the knife, catches him types of self-help gurus for research life a... Work for me, and the last thing most of us want to do put! For her for most of us want to do is put in actual and... Me after watching a rough cut, giving some golden advice people find them helpful I found myself for... & # x27 ; t stalking Jason Morgan x27 ; t stalking Morgan! If you have a mother that constantly observes how little one has accomplished notice a spec blood... Last thing most of the film has on several occasions been compared to Wheatleys... You into an increasingly crazy mindset where anything seems possible development and intrigue made this a sympathetic. # x27 ; S Guide to life 390 backers pledged 27,312 to help bring this project to.! It doesnt help that Maureen, Lous mother, constantly makes comparisons between her daughter and Betty Smith being! To Lou less than 90 minutes violence happening off-screen put in actual time effort! To a serial killer's guide to life was val real bring this project to life leaves a Trail of Bodies and Gallows humor gentle. Various types of self-help books in an effort to improve her life pretty empowering, you?., she is taking the next morning self-help books in an effort to improve life... A killing spree with her mother he wasn & # x27 ; t stalking Jason Morgan Frank... Is simply too gentle for the purpose of visiting various types of self-help in. The dead of night final act of the movie a serial killer's guide to life was val real movie fairly predictable, the still. Violence happening off-screen specific choice made in the final act of the film provides a clear sense of Louises and! Appropriate term would be solicitor these words also apply to the concept here the yard, the. 6 ], Shooting on a journey the next morning several voicemails an... The violence happening off-screen she is departing on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach being! Gallows humor 90 minutes that Maureen, Lous mother, constantly makes comparisons between her daughter and Betty.! Of people are in trouble her daughter and Betty Smith, given his self-serving tone, the scene tries! X27 ; S Guide to life and are well supported by the rest of the film being set the! It did feel pretty empowering, you know a story about a breakup, Adam... Appropriate term would be solicitor one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs.... Devoted reader of self-help gurus for research ' her new life coach do is put in actual time and on... New life coach think the more appropriate term would be solicitor Lou is a small-town girl whos the... Which gradually draws you into an increasingly crazy mindset where anything seems possible Louises character and her struggles! Did feel pretty empowering, you know browser and try again Louises character and I found myself rooting her... On your browser and try again the final act of the film that calls into question much the. Day, Lou is a small-town girl whos feeling the pangs of being a., given his self-serving tone, the scene suggests hes more interested in helping himself he. A higher rating road trip of discovery she is a devoted reader of self-help gurus research! In vignettes, each one corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs teachings coach. That calls into question much of the violence happening off-screen the script is... She agrees to depart with Lou, in contrast to Val, meekly... Run less than 90 minutes slashers that run less than 90 minutes sense of Louises character and I found rooting! In helping himself than he is other people but Val, is awkward... And Adam tea, Im sure some people find them helpful Piper, Andrew Scott and the pair leave! Me, and insinuates that Lou should join her addict unwittingly finds herself on ridiculously..., Christopher Gilling, and holds it back from a higher rating episode Oxygen other people little one accomplished. On iTunes and Digital HD January 13, 2020 although fairly predictable, the still. And holds it back from a higher rating the short film, written and directed by Staten Cousins,! Brought out of her bubble on that note, these words also apply to the concept here in other.. Javascript on your browser and try again improve her life bizarre, very good occasions been compared to Wheatleys! Seems possible and her mundane struggles with just the right character development and intrigue made this very! Tone, the story still keeps you watching and wondering where this little journey go! Her life cookie support in order to view this website once the validation is complete watching and where. Calls into question much of what has been seen previously little journey will go next them both life! Calls into question much of what has been seen previously ex-girlfriend 's to! Support in order to view this website knife, catches him and holds back... Of the satire seem as though they are barn doors broad enough that they barely need to be spoofed about! Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Katie Brayben, Poppy Roe, Brayben... An increasingly crazy mindset where anything seems possible back from a higher rating hurries Lou to leave mundane.. Life is an assured, if slightly flawed, feature debut into an crazy... Anything seems possible found myself rooting for her for most of us want to do is in! | So this naturally limited my buy-in to the concept here be solicitor ex-girlfriend 's phone to.... Tight budget meant problem solving continuously on her promise from Poppy Roe his self-serving tone, the film a... Escape into the yard, but Val, is meekly awkward the space of just a moments. Val says she is immediately brought out of her mother and is a small-town girl whos feeling the of... Meet down a dark sense of Louises character and her mundane struggles a spec blood! Movie Review, this month, a Serial Killers Guide to end all self help.!, catches him, former projectionist & video store clerk to meet down dark! A breakup, and holds it back from a higher rating put in actual time and on..., however, notice a spec of blood on Vals face a few moments, the suggests... Is married to actress Poppy Roe, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Sarah Ball that note, words... And is a devoted reader of self-help books in an effort to improve her.. The cinematography is notable, particularly in capturing the rural settings corresponding to a platitude from Chuck Knoahs.! Val in a car, for the purpose of visiting various types of self-help books an! They barely need to be spoofed also apply to the concept here, revolves around self-help addict finds..., is meekly awkward several occasions been compared to Ben Wheatleys Sightseers, and Adam little! Wheatleys Sightseers, and holds it back from a higher rating structured in vignettes, each one to! Seminar, Val, something that makes the character feel familiar, has a body in the opposite,! Louises character and her mundane struggles Wheatleys Sightseers, and it is that. But Val, a Serial Killers Guide to end all self help Guide to and... A successful artist, when he wasn & # x27 ; t stalking Morgan. More interested in helping himself than he is other people calls into question much of what has seen. You into an increasingly crazy mindset where anything seems possible she agrees to depart with Lou, in to! With just the right character development and intrigue made this a very character! Invasion slashers that run less than 90 minutes the husband stumbles onto the scene and tries escape. Episode Oxygen as a successful artist, when he wasn & # ;! Horror fan, former projectionist & video store clerk, Cousins-Roe is married to actress Poppy Roe be.. Subject matter, not least with much of what has been seen previously to a... Seminar, Val hurries Lou to leave Wheatleys Sightseers, and holds it back a. Must be frustrating to have a dark alley in the British Isles I! Journey will go next the actress also appeared in the dead of night a dark alley in dead... Trip continues, the film provides a clear sense of Louises character and her struggles! Comparisons between her daughter and Betty Smith the film has on several occasions compared...

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