The Clovehitch Killer (2018) Review – A Tense and Tangled Serial Killer Mystery
The Clovehitch Killer: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A masterfully atmospheric and unsettling psychological thriller that is tragically sabotaged by its own final act. The Clovehitch Killer succeeds as a slow-burn examination of small-town suspicion and the eroding trust within a devoutly religious family. The film draws heavily from real-world true crime history, most notably the case of the BTK killer, to craft a narrative that feels terrifyingly plausible. Dylan McDermott gives a career-best performance, perfectly balancing “Dad” cheesiness with a deeply buried, predatory menace. While the first two-thirds of the film are a masterclass in tension and quiet dread, the narrative takes a sharp turn into farcical territory during the climax. This 3.5 star experience is ultimately let down by a series of unbelievable character choices and a clumsy exposition dump that feels at odds with the nuance of the earlier chapters. It is a fantastic piece of cinema that unfortunately fumbles the ball right at the goal line, yet it remains essential viewing for fans of grounded, character-driven crime dramas.
Details: Director: Duncan Skiles | Cast: Charlie Plummer, Dylan McDermott, Madisen Beaty | Runtime: 1h 49m | Release Date: 2018
Best for: Fans of true-crime-inspired fiction, slow-burn psychological thrillers, and those who appreciate strong character acting over visceral action.
Worth noting: The film’s ‘Clovehitch’ knot is a direct reference to the signature knots used by real-life serial killer Dennis Rader, providing an extra layer of chilling authenticity for true crime buffs.
Where to Watch: Amazon🛒, Tubi (Free), Hulu
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
(A brilliantly acted and atmosphere-heavy crime thriller that is significantly hindered by a weak and unbelievable ending.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are taking a look at crime-based mystery movie The Clovehitch Killer.
Highlights
Small town America crime drama
The Clovehitch Killer follows the story of 16-year-old boy Tyler. Living in a town that has been haunted by a serial killer, Tyler’s time is divided between friends, school, scouts and family time. Raised by devoutly religious parents, Tyler frequents church and lives a fairly strict life.
“Acting as part crime drama and part coming-of-age story, this is a movie with two distinct approaches that both work really well. Tyler is a likeable protagonist, avoiding the more annoying traits of similar characters.”
When borrowing his dad’s truck to take a girl out on a date, he finds a picture of a naked woman restrained and gagged. Not knowing where it has come from, Tyler begins to investigate, leading him to find disturbing secrets buried in his family’s past.
Acting as part crime drama and part coming-of-age story, this is a movie with two distinct approaches that both work really well. Tyler is a likeable protagonist, avoiding the more annoying traits of similar aged characters in other movies. Seeing him struggle with girls and conflicted thoughts about his family is familiar but it all plays out in a captivating way and keeps you engaged. The real meat on the bones of The Clovehitch Killer, however, is in its crime drama.
An engaging story
When The Clovehitch Killer is entertaining you with its crime elements, it is absolutely at its best. In creating an atmosphere of tension and dread, it is slow-paced and never resorts to action to push the plot along, instead being content to weave a tapestry of small-town horror. Where every crawl space feels too small and every room lacks an exit, it is brilliant stuff and something many horror movies would kill to achieve. Even when the horror elements are pushed to one side, this is an easy movie to enjoy.
Tyler and his friend Kassi are determined to find out the identity of the Clovehitch Killer. They investigate evidence, creep into people’s sheds, and follow people around. It’s pretty tense stuff but always engaging. Scenes featuring the pair skulking around in the darkness are effortlessly effective, almost not having to even try to provoke feelings of unease in the viewer.
The balance between the crime element and the drama element bears the hallmarks of a ton of research. This is an utterly believable story based on genuine serial killer history – BTK for example. The religious setting adds a multi-layered element of commentary on the societal issues that allow serial killers to thrive.
“In creating an atmosphere of tension and dread, it is slow-paced and never resorts to action, instead being content to weave a tapestry of small-town horror. Every crawl space feels too small.”
There is an absolute ton to praise, here, and it is utterly enthralling. Sure, it spills its guts a little at the midway point which detracts from some of what made the earlier parts of the movie so good, but it is still enjoyable. Unfortunately, however, The Clovehitch Killer cannot stick the landing and that is what really stuck with me about this movie.
An awful ending
This is one of the most disappointing endings I have seen in a horror for a long time. I thought this the first time that I watched it and again the second time. I think it was worse the second time as I was enjoying the movie so much. It is very apparent, here, that writer Christopher Ford had backed himself into a corner. Perhaps wanting to compensate for some of the movie’s predictability, the ending represents a full-court hail Mary right at the buzzer — a hail Mary that, unfortunately, lands somewhere in the concession stands rather than the hoop.
The events of the last 30 minutes, or so, are extremely predictable and packed with so much exposition that it feels, almost, like a completely different film. Worse than that, the characters act in a manner that is entirely unbelievable and ridiculous. This ending makes zero sense and is so unlikely that it is eye-rolling. What a disappointment.
“Just like a gymnast’s routine is ruined if they can’t plant their feet, The Clovehitch Killer doesn’t stick the landing. In fact, it lands with a compound fracture to both legs.”
Just like a gymnast’s routine is ruined if they can’t plant their feet, The Clovehitch Killer doesn’t stick the landing. In fact, it lands with a compound fracture to both legs and a suspicious brown stain on its leotard. This is an ending that will frustrate the majority of viewers. It is unrealistic, unbelievable and, at its worse, utterly farcical and, yes, deserving of dropping the movie a point or so.
Fantastic acting and cinematography
Acting is fantastic throughout. Charlie Plummer, as Tyler, is great. He has a tendency to pull the same face repeatedly but its not a huge problem here. When he needs to emote, he can, and its a believable performance. Madisen Beaty is great fun as Kassi, doing a fantastic job of portraying a tough outsider with an interesting past.
The standout actor here is Dylan McDermott as Don. He puts on an amazing performance, perfectly bringing to life the Ned Flanders-esque religious family man. He delivers on the cheesiness perfectly, almost making you cringe at numerous points, as you would expect. He’s a ton of fun and, evidently, completely understood the character. McDermott really helps the viewer buy into the way Tyler regards him, making the character feel real.
Cinematography is fantastic. I would have preferred to see a 1.66:1 aspect ratio here. There is something of a retro feel, despite the modern setting. I feel like the 1.66:1 ratio would have worked well, especially given the location. The 1.78:1 ratio used is a fantastic second option, though.
Shots look gorgeous, doing a brilliant job capturing the tall trees as well as tight indoor shots. Lighting is used well to build tension and the scenery is fantastic. It’s a very nice-looking production. Direction is fine, pacing is decent though the last thirty minutes slip up massively. I could have lived without the bait-and-switch flashback scenes, as well.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Dylan McDermott: Delivers a phenomenal performance as the patriarch, perfectly capturing the unsettling intersection of religious devotion and hidden depravity.
- Atmospheric Tension: The film excels at building a thick sense of dread through slow pacing and clever use of domestic spaces like crawl spaces and sheds.
- Authentic Research: The parallels to real-life serial killers like BTK make the story feel grounded and much scarier than your average fictional slasher.
The Bad
- Frustrating Ending: The final thirty minutes abandon the film’s grounded logic for a series of events that feel farcical and entirely unbelievable.
- Midway Spoiler: The film “spills its guts” a little too early, robbing the mystery of some of its power before the final confrontation.
- Clunky Flashbacks: The use of bait-and-switch flashback scenes in the final act feels manipulative and somewhat unnecessary.
The Ugly: The Ending Logic. The characters act with such a sudden lack of survival instinct that it nearly destroys the immersion built up by the fantastic first hour.
Should You Watch The Clovehitch Killer?
Yes, absolutely. It is a 3.5 star film that offers some of the best tension in modern independent cinema. While the ending is a legitimate disappointment, the journey to get there is so well-crafted and excellently acted that it shouldn’t be missed. If you are a fan of true crime or character-focused thrillers, this is an easy recommendation.
Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight
Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.
A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.
Support the Site Knockout Horror is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Basically, if you click a link to rent or buy a movie, we may earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps keep the lights on and the nightmares coming. Don't worry, we will never recommend a movie purely to generate clicks. If it's bad, we will tell you.
Disclaimer: Images, posters, and video stills used in this review are the property of their respective copyright holders. They are included here for the purposes of commentary, criticism, and review under fair use. Knockout Horror makes no claim of ownership and encourages readers to support the official release of all films discussed.
