The tyranist's thoughts
I wasn't really looking forward to watching this one since it had no one I recognized in it and was only rated PG-13. I'm not saying that you can't make a good scary movie that isn't rated R, I'm just saying, that in most cases, the lower rating is a sign that the horror film just isn't going to cut it. Maybe now I know why Dean Parisot only has one writing credit and lots of directing credits.
So there have been some killings. Art killings. You know, where after the victim is dead, the killer paints him up and frames him in some manner. Oh and there is a 'struggling' musician and a young reporter who seem to be involved only in that they are in the movie. Well, more killings happen. The musician gets framed. The reporter disappears at an odd time and . . . well, I'll leave the ending for the two or three of you out there who really want to see it.
The best thing about this movie was Jessica Steen. I didn't remember having seen her before, but she was in Armageddon. Things were usually a little better when she was on screen. The rest of the time I spent wondering just how pretentious the movie could get. They seemed to be trying really hard to convince us that the killer was really likeable. Even when you figure out who the killer is (which should be an hour and a half before any of the characters figure it out), you can't like him. He is sychophantic and whining. When the end of the movie rolls around and they are trying their hardest to push all the sympathy buttons, I felt the most revolted. Dean Parisot went on to direct a couple comedies that I absolutely love, but this is not where he shines.
The movie was pretty low budget, but it wanted to pretend like it was more. It had a distinctly haughty air to it that put me off time and again and some pretty terrible music. That's a real problem in a movie that features a musician as the main character.
See it if you must, but I really don't think you'll like it.