“Is it hard for you to get up in the morning? Has your life lost a sense of purpose? Do you feel like giving up is the only option? Don’t despair because Mike Wilson can help you! Once suicidally depressed, Mike turned his life around when he became a serial killer. Now he’s going to share his secrets with you in this amazing life-changing seminar!”
Have you ever drooled over the idea of ripping apart the guy who pushes an elderly woman out of the way because her walker is blocking the hall? No...maybe it was just me then.
But whatever the case, Mike (Dameon Clarke) is definitely a serial killer, and one who dreams of nothing more than to spread his mastery of technique to others. He goes as far as to hold a seminar in which he teaches his pupils to "listen to the voices in your head" and to quit repressing those liberating feelings. He promises self confidence, fulfillment and a new lease on life, all for one very low price.

When Mike meets Bart (Matthew Gray Gubler), the clerk in a rather shabby local video store, he feels as though he has found the perfect lost soul longing to act out upon his inner violent tendencies...or perhaps he takes note of an impressionable young man that could be easily influenced at the promise of a true friend. But whatever the case may be, the two become as inseparable as Alice and her Wonderland, as Mike takes Bart under his wing and takes him on one heck of a wild ride: Living the life of a serial killer.
How To Be A Serial Killer shot in part live action, part documentary format, is one serious twist on what we may call today--a bromance. Unhealthy friendship, manipulation, psychosis and murder all wrapped up in one hilarious comedy. The laughs, which I promise you are abundant, are interrupted every so often by violence and gore that nearly slap you across the face with surprise. Director Luke Ricci brilliantly paired a happy go lucky, upbeat soundtrack with the gory scenes of the film, adding both insanity and a much needed contrast. As the saga continues, the film becomes less comedic and focuses more closely on Mike as his severe disturbance bubbles towards the surface. For those of us who have had sinister thoughts about permanently shutting up an overbearing boss or teacher, the film can be particularly satisfying seeing as those thoughts are fearless acted upon, but also particularly distressing as the reality of actually committing such a crime is also played out in sobering technicolor. No amount of peppy beats or gleeful grins can make the reality of taking someone's life any less haunting. Maybe I should just hand that essay in on time this week.
Despite its grim title, How To Be A Serial Killer, truly delivers; with the laughs slipping out before you can even look around the room to see if you are embarrassing yourself. Dameon Clarke is incredibly charming, but don't get me wrong, he'll turn that charm off just in time to put you through your on lawn mower. Matthew Gray Gubler, appears in what may be a shocking role to those of you who know him as Dr. Spencer Reid of Criminal Minds, a genius with an iedetic memory who throws serial killers in lock up. Despite his lawful acting background his performance is equally as believeable as Clarke's, easily transitioning from a quiet impressionable kid to a devious serial killer. The progression of Dameon Clarke as Mike from happy go lucky and fun to disturbed and irrational is extremely effective, as the demons held within only occasionally show through a word, a moment of insecurity or an evil look across his face.
How To Be A Serial Killer was theatrically released in late August of 2009 and the DVD was released in October. The film maintains the amaturistic grit of an independent while having a high enough production caliber to win over those viewers that may not be used to the not-so-professional look of non Hollywood fare. Being a serial killer could be fun...if it weren't for the severe mental imbalance necessary to commit such morbid fantasies and the inescapable repurcussions that follow.
Do yourself a favor and track down a copy of How To Be A Serial Killer! Unfortunately, it is not available at very many mainstream video stores, but a more independent based place such as Best Video of Hamden may carry it; and of course, the ever growing Netflix will get it to you in a jiffy!
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