How To Be A Serial Killer (2008)

Review by Adam C. Thomas



Mike Wilson is your average, every day guy. He has a great job, a loving girlfriend, a nice apartment. The one thing that no one knows about Mike, though, is that he’s actually a serial killer.

One night, the clerk at the local video store is being harassed by a belligerent customer. The customer walks away, yakking into his cell phone, and Mike approaches the counter. He leans in close to Bart, and asks him "What would you do to that guy if you knew you could get away with it?" This begins the tutelage of Mike and Bart.

The movie plays out half like a comedy, half like a self help program. Various times throughout the film, we cut to Mike, standing on stage in a snazzy suit, laying down the finer principles of being a successful (i.e. hasn’t been caught yet) serial killer. The rest of the movie is Mike himself taking Bart under his wing and teaching him the art of murder. Mike doesn’t just kill for fun or profit. No, Mike kills to send a message throughout the greater Los Angeles area, and even moreso, the world. He wants to show people life is short, live it up, be happy, because you only get one chance.

The movie itself is actually very entertaining, mingling comedy, mild suspense, and some tense action scenes as well as a heaping helping of grade A gore. If I had to compare this to another movie, I would probably say this is "American Psycho, the comedy". Mike is so meticulous and careful with each murder, it really feels very Patrick Bateman-ish. However, Mike has a sense of humor and isn’t afraid of a little self-deprecation now and then.

I say check this one out, it’s definitely worth a rental, and if you’re into dark comedies, it’s probably worth a purchase. I give this one an 8 out of 10.