I Am Not a Serial Killer (2016) Movie Review - Underrated Small Town Horror Gem

It’s day 19 of our K-O-Ween 31 Days of Halloween feature and today we are checking out Billy O’Brien’s award winning horror movie I Am Not a Serial Killer from 2016. I Am Not a Serial Killer is a little bit different from the other movies on this list. It is darkly comical and features a fantastic twist that really sets it apart from similar movies.

Based on the Dan Wells novel from 2009, this is, perhaps, another horror with more of a drama leaning. Deliberately slow paced, it’s a smart horror movie that will likely surprise a few viewers. With that in mind, let’s take a look. As always I will give a quick breakdown of the movie so feel free to skip that if you like.

I Am Not a Serial Killer

I Am Not a Serial Killer follows the story of John Wayne Cleaver, played by Max Records. John has been seeing a psychologist due to having violent fantasies and homicidal thoughts. The psychologist tells John that he is potentially suffering from sociopathy. He is obsessed with serial killers and regularly discusses them with his friend. He also writes about them for school projects, much to the disapproval of his teachers and mum.

After learning of a serial killer haunting his town. John becomes determined to discover and reveal the identity of the man. All while battling the inner turmoil that he goes through ever day. The one thing that John didn’t prepare for, however, is that the serial killer may be something more sinister than he could have possibly imagined. 

Small Town Horror

I Am Not a Serial Killer is a psychological horror with a mystery based plot and a whole lot of tension. Placing us into the shoes of a teenage protagonist and set in small town America. The movie feels somewhat similar to recent hits such as Super Dark Times and The Clovehitch Killer. It perfectly captures that innocent small town vibe. There is something of a Stephen King novel feeling to the story and setting. The town is as much of a character as anyone else in the film.

The movie is filmed in the rarely used 1.66:1 aspect ratio with significant levels of film grain which offers it a nostalgic feel. This is the second movie we have reviewed this week that is filmed in this aspect ratio (The Witch).

The small town vibe presents us with a community of recognisable characters that know each other and are all connected in some way. This plays into some of the later elements of the plot but also gives a nice self contained feeling to the events. The imminent threat facing John feels as though it is right on his doorstep and this creates a lot of welcome tension. It’s claustrophobic in the best possible way. The entire community is impacted by the events going on and everything that happens has ripples. It does a great job of keeping you guessing as to what is coming next.

A Cold Landscape

I Am Not a Serial Killer is set in Midwestern America during fall and features a snow covered landscape that offers the movie a unique aesthetic. Slightly reminiscent of Let The Right One In, but with a little sprinkling of Derry, Maine style charm. It’s pretty gorgeous to look at and pulls you in almost immediately. The setting is fantastic and the small town has an almost homely and welcoming vibe.

The movie is placed between Halloween and Christmas which I absolutely love. You can throw this movie on at any point in the holiday season and it is going to feel like it fits perfectly. The aesthetic is fantastic and the various events keep the scenery interesting. The holiday season affords an interesting way of helping the viewer keep track of time, as well.

A Different Kind of Horror

I Am Not a Serial Killer is somewhat different to a lot of horror movies. Featuring a young protagonist who is desperately flawed and only a few steps away from being an antagonist himself. This is a movie with a keen sense of humour and a desire to surprise. From the lead character’s sociopathic tendencies to the wicked twist ending. I Am Not a Serial Killer attempts to throw a curveball at you at every opportunity.

The surprises keep coming throughout and director Billy O’Brien attempts to pull the rug out from underneath you on a few occasions. John is a disturbed character and most viewers will likely not relate to some of his beliefs. But that is what makes him so interesting. We see the world through his somewhat twisted vision which offers a very unique perspective.

Most horror movie protagonists would be horrified to see dead bodies and murders taking place in front of them. John, however, isn’t. It doesn’t bother him but he wants to know who the hell is responsible. This lends him a lack of fear that is uncommon in horror movie protagonists. He is not afraid to venture into dangerous situations to find out what is going on. Later on in the movie he extends this even further to reveal some of the darkness in himself. It’s a very unique approach and makes John feel as though he is on somewhat equal footing with the things he is up against.

A Slow Build

I Am Not a Serial Killer features a very slow burn but the pacing is, in my opinion, perfect. It’s not a particularly scary movie but it keeps you enthralled throughout. As mentioned above, John isn’t your ordinary protagonist. Being a somewhat complex character, the movie is in no rush to explain John’s motivations. We grow to understand him more as time goes on and develop an organic understanding of his thought process.

John is never too far away from danger. This makes for some very tense scenes that, again, aren’t scary but keep you on edge. John is as atypical as horror protagonists come and the movie benefits from this dynamic. When you throw in Christopher Lloyd’s next door neighbour with a good heart into the mix. It makes for some fascinating interactions that only get deeper as the movie goes on. It is worth keeping in mind that this movie takes awhile to get going but when it does, it doesn’t let up.

Fantastic Acting

Seeing Christopher Lloyd’s name in the cast list you probably know you are going to get at least one decent performance. I Am Not a Serial Killer, however, features a bunch of them. Christopher Lloyd is absolutely fantastic, as always. He can be a little difficult to understand at times due to his character being somewhat old and tired. Aside from that he puts on an impactful performance that is incredibly multi-layered and entirely enjoyable.

Max Records, as John Wayne Cleaver, is brilliant, as well. He perfectly portrays a character that is aloof and somewhat unaffected by the world around him. Being tasked with having such a complex personality; Records manages to put across the difficulties John faces and does so with a wry, somewhat menacing, humour to everything. He somehow manages to bring nuance to John’s generally flat emotions and is never once anything other than very convincing. 

The side cast is all great. There are no weak performances but some do stand out as being particularly good or fun. Raymond Brandstorm, as Max, has some great lines. Karl Geary, as Dr Neblin, is hilarious with his bird fascination and pieces of advice for John and Dee Noah, as Kay, is also perfectly fitting. It’s a great cast that does a fantastic job.

Wickedly Funny but Not For Everyone

I Am Not A Serial Killer is genuinely hilarious at times. John is a funny character with a quick wit and Christopher Lloyd’s Mr Crowley is darkly comical in moments where you would ordinarily think it wouldn’t fit. There are some fantastic scenes that will really make you chuckle. Some of the characters are there purely for comedic value, as well. The comedy timing is perfect and I really appreciate the director’s commitment to keeping it somewhat light.

This is something that may put a few people off, however. Some people aren’t fans of comedy horror and, while I wouldn’t outright class I Am Not a Serial Killer as a comedy horror, it commits to it more than most horror movies do. I wouldn’t suggest that people who don’t like horror with a comedy bent avoid it, though. It’s a seriously fantastic horror movie in its own right, the comedy is just a bonus.

Should You Watch I Am Not a Serial Killer?

Horror fans who enjoy a small town American setting, dark humour and atypical protagonists should definitely watch I Am Not a Serial Killer. Max Records and Christopher Lloyd are both fantastic. Pacing is excellent, after a slow start, there are some great moments of tension and director Billy O’Brien always tries to go against the grain. Throw in one of the most interesting twist endings in indie horror history and you have a brilliant movie that is well worth checking out. 

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.

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