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Thursday, January 5, 2017

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: I Am Not A Serial Killer

of 9 viewers "Liked" "I Am Not A Serial Killer" (2016, USA)
Here's what the creatures had to say:

Speed Demon (R) - "I love how one scene can totally surprise you and blow you away. This film took a direction I never saw coming and that's what I loved about it. Keeping your attention is a problem with a lot of films these days. Not this one. Excellent all around with characters, plot and story. Emotions will fly. A must watch for sure." - 4 Stars

Lord Battle - "I Am Not A Serial Killer is a strong indie drama that evolves into a horror film. Originally the name of this feature didn't grab my attention and I would have skipped it completely if it weren't for our Thursday Twitter poll. There isn't much you can say about I Am Not A Serial Killer without spoiling anything, so if you enjoy features that explore human emotion and the relevance thereof, check this one out." - 4 Stars

KillDozer - "Billy O' Brian has been a name in the genre for a while both writing and directing. His titles include 2014's Hybrid, and 2005's Isolation, neither of which have received as much attention as his newest endeavor I Am Not a Serial Killer which can been seen streaming on Netflix. This was a fun film with nostalgic elements that brought movies like Silver Bullet, Rear Window, and even 1986's The Fly to mind. A tale we have been told before where the outsider can become a hero and love can be an inspiration for murder. Strong performances from all but I must give a nod to Christopher Lloyd for an amazing role played well. I have to say I loved this movie until the 3rd act when I started liking it only because I felt It could have gone in a much more impactful direction. When all is said and done, this is a good movie worth sharing and it has something for everyone!" - 4 stars (Collection worthy because it was fun, well written, and was romantic, even for a monster kid)

Huntress - "I already know I would re-watch I Am Not a Serial Killer; it has the kind of details that would benefit from closer attention and a layered story that I really enjoyed watching unfold. Everything from the sets to the progression of time worked. I felt like I could have watched another hour." - 4.5 Stars

Dabbles - "I really didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed this. It feels a bit long but it intrigued me. For a minute I thought it was about to turn into a slasher, until something happens then I was like "Oh that's different!!" There was character development, great use of handheld, and dialogue was interesting, it is totally worth a watch." - 4 Stars

The Great Hornito - "I liked I Am Not a Serial Killer because it kept me guessing the main character's mental health throughout the film. I'm still not sure if he is a typical sociopath or not. The pace, tension, and acting were all superb. It was almost like a bizarro ET movie." -5 Stars

The Berkeley Blazer - "When the movie began I wasn't expecting much, but I liked the protagonist well enough and was willing to play ball. As each new scene unfolded I kept wondering what this movie would ultimately be about, but also gradually invested myself in the world of the snowy hamlet almost without realizing it.. The narrative trajectory is straightforward enough but elusive and doesn't really assert itself until about the midpoint of the film, while this structure gives the film a particular kind of unpredictability that ultimately works to it's favor. This film is really about a duel between two characters of a similar nature and the questions is asks about it's main characters are poignant and have emotional resonance. What makes the duel compelling rather than just simply interesting, are the people that are attached to these characters, even though they are unaware of what is taking place between protagonist and antagonist. Your reactions to this movie will likely be particularly dependent on the particular timbre of your natural sympathies and the topography of your compassion, as well as how your ideas about community are constructed. While this film isn't as tightly controlled as I might have hoped, the only reason I feel this is the films overall quality render it's minor failings all the more stark." - 4.5 Stars

Math Mage - *Spoiler* - "Charming coming of age drama for the modern adolescent sociopath, and Christopher Lloyd is a monster!" - 4 Stars

Clark Little (R) - "A small town adolescent, who has a hankering for killing, is held tightly by his own set of rules and by the influence of his psychiatrist. This film feels like the television series Dexter if it were written as a John Cougar Mellencamp song. A film that is held together by a strong performance from Christopher Lloyd, I don’t know if he’s ever been better. His portrayal of an elderly neighbor is measured and powerful.
It's unfortunate that the ending came out of nowhere to me. I was not into it. However, it’s not a deal breaker. Don’t let this one get free." -3.5 Stars


(R) - Viewed the film remotely, which may have impacted the reviewer's opinion.


The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*
(Below is for after you've seen the film)

One thing that people always seem to get caught up on when watching a show/movie about a sociopath is how a real psychotic would or should act and how the show/movie is misrepresenting it. I specifically heard a lot of this when Dexter was still on air (I may or may not agree with most of it) and after a few great post screening discussions on I Am Not A Serial Killer this topic popped up again. Now I understand this will always come into play when dealing with this specific subject matter, so I decided to add some helpful literature below to help educate us on the metal disorder.

Definition
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), also known as dissocial personality disorder (DPD) and sociopathy, is a personality disorder, characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. An impoverished moral sense or conscience is often apparent, as well as a history of crime, legal problems, or impulsive and aggressive behavior.

Neurological
Researchers have linked physical head injuries with antisocial behavior. Since the 1980s, scientists have associated traumatic brain injury, including damage to the prefrontal cortex, with an inability to make morally and socially acceptable decisions. Children with early damage in the prefrontal cortex may never fully develop social or moral reasoning and become "psychopathic individuals ... characterized by high levels of aggression and antisocial behavior performed without guilt or empathy for their victims." Additionally, damage to the amygdala may impair the ability of the prefrontal cortex to interpret feedback from the limbic system, which could result in uninhibited signals that manifest in violent and aggressive behavior.

Family environment
Some studies suggest that the social and home environment has contributed to the development of antisocial behavior. The parents of these children have been shown to display antisocial behavior, which could be adopted by their children.
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With this knowledge it seems like almost anyone could potentially be a Sociopath or suffer from ASPD, so how can any of us operate normally knowing what we now know? Well thankfully enkivillage.com has come up with:

"10 Red Flags You Should Notice Of A Sociopath"
1

Charming

Sociopaths tend to be charming and charismatic, attracting people who simply want to be close to them. When seeking answers about what is a sociopath, charming is one those traits. They typically attract those seeking direction or guidance. They usually have strong sexual attraction or seem sexy. Yet, remember that not every sexy person is a sociopath, but you should still pay attention if someone has weird fetishes and extreme sexual appetites.
2

Intelligence

Sociopaths are typically very intelligent. However, instead of letting their knowledge empower themselves, they use it for deception and advancement. This means that the high IQs of sociopaths can be dangerous, with examples being found among serial killers who evaded the law.
3

No Remorse, Guilt or Shame

Sociopaths can't feel remorse, guilt or shame because their brains don't have the proper wiring. This means that they can threaten or harm people or betray them without worrying about the consequences. What is a sociopath? The answer usually leads to people who pursue their self-interest, even if it harms others. As such, successful sociopaths can be found in top government positions worldwide.
4

Intense and Spontaneous

Sociopaths are usually more intense and spontaneous than others. They aren't bound by typical social contracts and may engage in behavior that seems extremely risky or irrational. They also do bizarre things that others wouldn't.
5

Seek to Win

These people will hate to lose any fight or argument, leading to defending their lies at all costs, even if it becomes absurd based on logic. They simply want to win or dominate other no matter the cost.
6

Incapable of Love

People with this condition are completely self-serving and cannot love. They might pretend to have compassion or feel love to get their way, but they don't actually feel the emotion in the same way that others do.
7

Invent Lies

Sociopaths invent lies concerning their experiences that are outrageous in nature. They rely on storytelling and their charismatic nature to achieve their words. They may exaggerate wildly, but somehow make their absurd tales seem believable when they tell them to you.
8

Speak Poetically

Sociopaths can speak poetically, creating a hypnotic and intriguing monologue in the stream of conscious style. They can be expert storytellers and sometimes poets as well, using their words to spread lies in a hypnotic manner.
9

Never Apologize

Looking at what is a sociopath shows people who never feel guilt or accept they are wrong and will therefore never apologize. Even in cases where they are given proof that they are incorrect, they won't apologize, attacking instead.
10

Believe They Make the Truth

Sociopaths are delusional to the extent that they think that things they say become truth just because they said it. Charles Manson, one of the most famous sociopath murderers, is known to have said that he hadn't killed anyone and doesn't have to live in the "physical realm" as he can kill people in his head.

...Yeah. So what if this very detailed and airtight list starts to describe your personality?! Well thankfully another site (SociopathTest.net) has come up with a personal test consisting of 25 questions that will answer the question, "Am I a Sociopath?"
And all joking aside, the internet seems to be obsessed with this idea of a 10 question magazine style quiz having a thorough psychotic analysis capable of actually answering this extremely tough question. But the test I've shared the link to is a much more interesting version of these lame quizzes. It hides the intent behind each part creatively helping reinforce the illusion that we may actually fail. Check it out here


- Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a residence for a special screening on  12/22/2016
*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not affect the rating.

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