I Am Not a Serial Killer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

I Am Not a Serial Killer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 11, 2017

Adapted from a novel by Dan Wells, “I Am Not a Serial Killer” is one of the better chillers I’ve seen in recent memory, using an enticing sense of mystery to act as glue for macabre events occurring in a tiny Minnesota town. It’s the new film from burgeoning genre moviemaker Billy O’Brien, and he gives his latest work some serious thought, trying to balance the needs of unsettling characterization with slightly damaged people and a grander arc of horror that takes more than a few unusual directions. “I Am Not a Serial Killer” works best without a full understanding of what lies ahead, so the spoiler-sensitive (and you know who you are) should walk away from this review now, preferably straight to a Blu-ray of the picture, ready to appreciate the dramatic subtleties and indie production achievements of the feature, which offers much more than predictable shock value.

In the small town of Clayton, teenager John (Max Records, “Where the Wild Things Are”) holds a fascination with serial killers, beguiled by their methodologies and legacies. Assisting his mortician mother, April (Laura Fraser), with body preparation, John is given a front-row seat to death, which feeds his obsession. When dead bodies start appearing around town, authorities are overwhelmed with the possibility of a serial murderer, inspiring John to execute his own investigation, discovering pools of black goo at the crime scenes. This finding leads him to his kindly neighbor, Crowley (Christopher Lloyd), who isn’t quite the man John has been led to believe, revealing a dark side in private that keeps the teen on edge, hungry for more information. Lost in sleuthing, John begins to neglect key relationships with April, his lovestruck neighbor Brooke (Lucy Lawton), and Dr. Neblin (Karl Geary), a therapist who’s growing concerned with John’s sociopathic tendencies.

The John we meet in “I Am Not a Serial Killer” doesn’t fit in anywhere, showing limited interest in traditional teenager pursuits. He’s bullied at school by a brute who’s quick to point out John’s general oddity and strange afterschool job, and there’s Brooke, who’s hopelessly in love with her strange neighbor, but can’t turn his head, competing for attention with grim events occurring around Clayton. Dr. Neblin treats John with respect, but he’s aware the boy’s wiring isn’t right, challenging him on his dark thoughts and fixations on the murder rituals of others. As for John, he acknowledges his issues, but doesn’t take them seriously, believing he knows the boundaries of his macabre interests, capable of pulling back whenever he chooses. It’s a complicated character study, and it makes up the spine of “I Am Not a Serial Killer,” with the screenplay inspecting John’s behavior as a juvenile struggling with his life (stained by a father who abandoned him) and his amateur detective skills, sensing something isn’t right about Crowley, who has the physical presence of an elderly man, which hides an unexpected appetite for destruction.

Crowley’s reign of terror is exposed early on in “I Am Not a Serial Killer,” but the real question of the story concerns John’s appreciation of his neighbor’s evil ways. O’Brien plays with John’s passion for the macabre, alternately delighting in Crowley’s sinister business and horrified by what he’s witnessing around town, which gives the feature a fresh perspective on serial murder. The cops aren’t helpful, they end up on the pile of dead too, leaving John to figure out things on his own, embarking on a game with Crowley that’s wonderfully paced by the production, which enjoys the meeting of these twisted minds. “I Am Not a Serial Killer” is grounded in reality, keeping John itchy with unresolved family issues and the pain of adolescence, dealing with a high-strung mother trying to absorb the blame for her son’s adjustment issues, understandably upset that she’s allowed her child to play with dead things for so long. There’s more to the movie than just violent displays, frequently exposing a rich emotional and psychological study that supports ghoulish discoveries, making the effort feel more substantial, while Records does a fine job in a difficult role of juvenile awkwardness greeting grisly, unformed desires.

I Am Not a Serial Killer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot on 16mm, the textured charms of the "I Am Not a Serial Killer" cinematography are preserved wonderfully on the AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Grain is present and filmic, delivering a wonderful sense of life to the viewing experience, which retains its intended eeriness. Detail is consistently satisfactory throughout, identifying small town architecture and neighborhood distances, and facial particulars are also defined with reasonable clarity. The feature's interest in stranger encounters delivers more unique surfaces and viscosity. Colors are secure and communicative, bringing out the best in neon lightning and wintry locations, providing colder, brighter hues that balance well with apple cheeks and bloodshed. Delineation is ideal. Source is without damage, but inherent issues with debris and hair remain.

I Am Not a Serial Killer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix does a lot of heavy lifting for the low-budget picture, successfully communicating the mysterious mood O'Brien is aiming for. Surround activity is mostly subtle, with the track favoring a frontal presence to connect with listeners, handling dialogue exchanges with compelling clarity, mindful of emotional outbursts, echoed rooms, and bizarre discoveries. Scoring sounds full and deep, supporting the action and boosting it with tasteful volume surges when the moment calls for emphasis. Instrumentation is ideal. Atmospherics maintain the wintry Minnesota mood, detailing winds and snow, and school bustle is also evocative. Sound effects are mild but accurate.

I Am Not a Serial Killer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scenes (8:58, HD) expand on John's experience in his small town, offering additional moments of spying on Crowley's daily life, and his unsteady relationships with April and her partner, Margaret. Also included are more neighborly interactions, and additional time with Brooke.

• 2011 Test Film (3:25, HD) is a look at original work on "I Am Not a Serial Killer," which starred a then 13-year-old Max Records as John.

• 2011/2015 Scene Comparison (1:10, HD) showcases the difference in tone and Records's maturity during a key scene set at a phone booth.

• Puppet Shoot (2:27, HD) spotlights 2015 work on the picture's centerpiece creation, created by Toby Froud, who's had a career in fantasy filmmaking, but is best known for playing Toby, the baby from "Labyrinth." Records joins the gang of professionals as one of the creation's operators.

• Photo Gallery (2:09, HD) concentrates on pictures of the aforementioned puppet, from design to execution.

• Storyboards (16:37, HD) present a scrolling look at three major sequences from "I Am Not a Serial Killer," revealing the production was far more comfortable with early, visual effects-laden reveals than the final cut.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:13, HD) is included.

I Am Not a Serial Killer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"I Am Not a Serial Killer" features excellent small town atmosphere to back up its spooky twists and turns, with scrappy cinematography by Robbie Ryan juggling the foreboding atmosphere of a murder spree with the isolation of winter in Minnesota, making the frigid sleuthing pop wonderfully. Costume design also has its highlights, including the use of a winter hat that, when pulled down, gives John a cartoon panda appearance, making his ultimate quest all the more unnerving. Mercifully, there's a beginning, middle, and end to all this murder business, finding Wells's literary structure helping to keep the effort focused and satisfying, never overly obsessed with the process of killing, just the result of it. "I Am Not a Serial Killer" preserves its surprises most of the way through, and they're good ones too, rooted in emotion and welcoming the unreal, gifting the picture a fascinating story to support its weird endgame.