Box of Monsters - Features

When it comes to independent movies shot with a video camera and sold on the internet, there's always a certain uninhibited quality in terms of the gore effects and nudity that you just don't find anywhere else. It's refreshing - almost magical - to see such gleeful abandon because, hey, who cares?! It's a cut-the-crap-and-give'em-what-they-want kind of attitude that's not in the least bit held back by delusions of reputation or large profit.

Having said that, what else can I say about 4th Floor Pictures' Serial Killer? Well, for one thing, it's about an hour and ten minutes long. That's a big deal! Do you have a clue about how much work it would be to produce an almost feature-length feature? I do. Not that I've done it. Why not? Because it'd be so much work! In The Making of Serial Killer, an extra feature on the Serial Killer VHS, it's clear that director Ryan Cavalline would like us to believe he just grabbed a camera and some friends and threw together a movie. Don't believe it.

Something else that can be said about Serial Killer... it's ambitious not only in running time, but in personality. Cavalline has made a serious attempt at bringing us a thoughtful, atmospheric, unsettlingly paced flick complete with a gen-yoo-wine twist ending you won't see coming. This is a movie that's not afraid to stop and smell the tension, and really takes its time unfolding the story of a writer who's delved a little too deep into the world of serial murderers.

It's these very qualities, however, that make Serial Killer seem, at times, unfocused and aimless. What at first looks like not very good filmmaking suddenly makes you go, "Ohhh... it's artsy!"

How's the acting? With the exception of several nude women obviously reading from cue cards, the acting was pretty decent overall. There are a few shiners that really stand out, too. During one of the film's many vignettes depicting serial killers relating their twisted tales, we meet up with actor Joel Wynkoop, and he is simply spellbinding!

Bottom line - if you're a fan of the genre, and an adult, Serial Killer is well worth your time. It's available directly from the official 4th Floor Pictures web site for $15, and includes The Making of and plenty o' blood-splattered previews!