From writer James Handel and director Julian Richards comes this reasonably interesting look at the life of a serial killer who decides that he'll document his actions, with the help of a troubled cameraman / assistant (Mark Stevenson), in his attempt to "write the final word on what constitutes horror." Its execution isn't exactly fresh, nor is it ever particularly insightful, but Richards manages to keep it entertaining and watchable. (Even if one isn't impressed, they only have to stick it out for 76 minutes.) It does have some grim, graphic, and uncomfortable scenes, but the main attraction is a charismatic central performance by Kevin Howarth as Max. Howarth is almost the whole show as he sits down and chats us up, asking us what we think of him and assuming that we're condemning his actions. He raises certain moral issues, while passing commentary on the whole idea of voyeurism.
Gore and effects work are good; in particular, the immolation scene is impressive. It may be hard for some viewers to take this film as it doesn't shy away from showing imperiled people suffering and pleading for their lives. And all the time Max is maintaining his amused sense of detachment. He is an intriguing bugger, to be sure, as we see him interacting with other people in his life and keeping up the facade of being a more or less "normal", if somewhat eccentric, person on the surface. Where the film really gets more interesting is when Max is encouraging the assistant to increase his level of participation. Not surprisingly, the assistant is too bothered by conscience to be able to sink to Maxs' level of depravity.
At least Handel and Richards come up with one entertaining gag, presenting their film as the home movies that Max and his buddy have recorded over the horror film on a videocassette.
Overall, this is good but definitely not great stuff that should warrant a look for fans of the genre, even if it's naturally not in the same league as movies that came before it or may have inspired it such as "Peeping Tom" and "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer".
Seven out of 10.
Gore and effects work are good; in particular, the immolation scene is impressive. It may be hard for some viewers to take this film as it doesn't shy away from showing imperiled people suffering and pleading for their lives. And all the time Max is maintaining his amused sense of detachment. He is an intriguing bugger, to be sure, as we see him interacting with other people in his life and keeping up the facade of being a more or less "normal", if somewhat eccentric, person on the surface. Where the film really gets more interesting is when Max is encouraging the assistant to increase his level of participation. Not surprisingly, the assistant is too bothered by conscience to be able to sink to Maxs' level of depravity.
At least Handel and Richards come up with one entertaining gag, presenting their film as the home movies that Max and his buddy have recorded over the horror film on a videocassette.
Overall, this is good but definitely not great stuff that should warrant a look for fans of the genre, even if it's naturally not in the same league as movies that came before it or may have inspired it such as "Peeping Tom" and "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer".
Seven out of 10.