IMDb RATING
5.4/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
A serial killer decides to teach the secrets of his satisfying career to a video store clerk.A serial killer decides to teach the secrets of his satisfying career to a video store clerk.A serial killer decides to teach the secrets of his satisfying career to a video store clerk.
- Awards
- 2 wins
Photos
Shadoe Stevens
- Narrator
- (voice)
Ryan Smith
- Thug #1
- (as Ryan K. Smith)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsCharles Manson is not a serial killer in that he never personally killed anyone; he only ordered the killings.
- ConnectionsReferences Powder (1995)
Featured review
Ladies and gentlemen, better your life through serial murder!
For the most part, "How to Be a Serial Killer" is a sharp, charming, and very funny combination of satire and dark comedy. It's so engagingly performed that one is willing to go along for the ride. Granted, towards the end it actually starts to become more conventional and predictable, but getting there is still a good deal of fun. It never gets that gory, so the less squeamish in the audience shouldn't be squirming too much. What's great about it is how completely our lead character believes in himself and his methodology; the movie is at its brightest when it's making fun of the business of motivational speaking and our merry murderer is offering all manner of lessons in the fine art of serial killing. The filmmaking is overall fairly slick and the kills are done in a rather stylized way.
The movie is a solid vehicle for prolific working actor Dameon Clarke, who's done a great deal of voice-over work for video games. He delivers a charismatic, confident performance as Mike Wilson, who wishes to impart his wisdom to a young apprentice, whom he's decided will be meek video store employee Bart (Matthew Gray Gubler of 'Criminal Minds'). Mike teaches Bart everything that he knows, from victim selection to body disposal - not to mention trying to keep a loved one, in this case Mikes' girlfriend Abigail (Laura Regan, "Dead Silence") - in the dark for as long as possible. Their scenes are intercut with those of a psychologist, Dr. Goldberg (veteran comedy character actor George Wyner of "Spaceballs") educating us on the nature of serial murderers.
This is spirited, high-energy entertainment with a rather profound wrap-up, which shows that there is more going on here than just the comedy quotient. Clarke and the likable Gubler work well together and the story has enough pacing and cleverness going for it to make it worth recommending to others.
Eight out of 10.
The movie is a solid vehicle for prolific working actor Dameon Clarke, who's done a great deal of voice-over work for video games. He delivers a charismatic, confident performance as Mike Wilson, who wishes to impart his wisdom to a young apprentice, whom he's decided will be meek video store employee Bart (Matthew Gray Gubler of 'Criminal Minds'). Mike teaches Bart everything that he knows, from victim selection to body disposal - not to mention trying to keep a loved one, in this case Mikes' girlfriend Abigail (Laura Regan, "Dead Silence") - in the dark for as long as possible. Their scenes are intercut with those of a psychologist, Dr. Goldberg (veteran comedy character actor George Wyner of "Spaceballs") educating us on the nature of serial murderers.
This is spirited, high-energy entertainment with a rather profound wrap-up, which shows that there is more going on here than just the comedy quotient. Clarke and the likable Gubler work well together and the story has enough pacing and cleverness going for it to make it worth recommending to others.
Eight out of 10.
helpful•54
- Hey_Sweden
- Mar 14, 2014
- How long is How to Be a Serial Killer?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Как стать серийным убийцей
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $2,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $899
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $899
- Jul 26, 2009
- Gross worldwide
- $899
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
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By what name was How to Be a Serial Killer (2008) officially released in Canada in English?
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