Stars: Jeremy Dangerfield, Tyhr TrubiakBudget: $600
Directed By: Ian Russell
Well where do I begin, I was sent this as a screener to review. This however will not sway my judgement in any way. If I like or dislike the film you'll know it by the end of this review.
Okay, okay this is a very low budget film, micro budget is probably pushing it to the extreme also. It starts with (and continues with) all the usual low budget hallmarks.
Grainy filming, poor lighting and handheld shakey cam. That's a given in these movies, they don't get filmed on expensive high definition cameras that's for sure. So all that has to be given a pass when reviewing a micro budget movie. This film clocks in at around 63-64 minutes including the credits at both ends.
My does it have such a large cast for such a small film too. We get a pre-credits sequence of some random girl being murdered. I'm sure it's a kukri knife used or something of similar shape.
The beginning credits roll up, I find myself getting the feeling to grab some glow sticks, neon gear and throw some shapes to the music booming over the multicolored the killing death name card.
We then join two police officers, one a very aged set in his ways cop, the other (though looking like he's late thirties at best) fresh out of training.
This is aging grump Frank and his Rookie sidekick Jimmy, they are at the scene of the crime where the victim has had her foot cut off. A few gags later we've met the coroner Morty, who seems to like turkey sandwiches. At the moment they seem none the wiser to who the killer is or his motives.
We then meet the killer who is watching a film with his girlfriend, great little fourth wall break and self depreciation of 'bad films' the boyfriend seemingly gets a call to deliver pizza (he works for a 24hr delivery service).
We then see a blind history teacher of some sort leave a lecture, there's then a lengthy (also slightly tedious) of this walking down seemingly endless corridors. Why would this guy be walking down these back corridor places in the first place, for so long too?
Its amusing for a bit but gets old fast, he does seem to cotton on that someone is following him after a while. He's then killed by his unseen killer.
The two cops arrive to investigate the situation Morty again is already there sandwich in hand too explain the chumps death. An amazing effect here for a low budget film, a hollowed out watermelon to signify the mans brain was taken. Now I admit I was pretty much enjoying the film up to this point, the effects made me smile even the acting so far.
I really don't know what happened past this point, it's like the writing took a serious nose dive as well as the acting level of everyone else involved. Now there's only so far I forgive micro budget films, if your effects are great for the budget and the story really reels me in that's pretty much all I need.
Here though the killer starts to visit former friends and lovers to kill them and take the body parts he needs.
It's quite a suspension of disbelief I have to throw a film for a creepy looking pizza delivery guy visiting an old girlfriend out of the blue after 4 YEARS of not seeing her and her just being like, "oh hi why don't you come in" even with the excuse of asking to use the phone. It's painfully obvious they didn't finish on good footing too.
So the cops learn that a picture at one of the scenes is something to with Egyptian hieroglyphics. They go to see a specialist about it who explains to them what the picture means, I liked this guy and selflessly promoting his book too made me smile.
It's around this time the older cop Frank just starts to lose it, I did not really like this arc for his character, especially after a very good scene earlier in the film where the two cops have somewhat of a heart to heart. Yeah so frank just starts accusing everyone they meet of being the murderer now.
The murderer we see a small insight that he's clearly got problems with women, these are brief flashes of some of the better writing from earlier in the film. Unfortunately it's literally brought down again minutes later. When unable to perform he fakes a phone call. He goes to see an old male friend who literally has a wall of porn, no seriously magazine pages or internet printed pictures plastered on one wall. I couldn't believe my eyes.
He kills this friend by faking? interest in wanting anal sex with him, he doesn't seem to need much persuading. He then drills out his friends asshole with the power tool collecting the juices in the process, lovely!
Anyway from what I can gather from the films plot, he seems to be creating a concoction from these parts that cleanse someones soul. NO it's not for him which some might think it is, it appears he thinks women are dirty somehow, it's not really explained, but its for his girlfriend.
thinking this pizza will cleanse her of sins or something?
I'm not sure entirely, I spoil the very end as it's not quite that bad. For me i'm sorry it very hit and miss at times especially when Frank goes rogue later on.
Due to this THN would only award The Killing Death a 2 out of 5 stars story wise, but watch if your a film maker trying to get ideas for some really good practical effects on a shoestring budget, you could learn a thing or two from this film in that respect so we'll bump it up too a 3/5
