Screen Media Venture’s newest release You Might Be The Killer might just be the movie die-hard Horror fans have been waiting to see all these years. Combining everything from old Slasher movies, and some elements of modern day fluff, You Might Be The Killer works best for those not knowing much about what happens in the film. After all, going in blindly is the way to go for the ultimate Horror movie experience.
Premiering on Syfy Channel on Saturday, October 6, 2018, and set to hit film festivals and a limited theatrical run, You Might Be The Killer came to be as an “hour-long” Twitter conversation between authors, and close friends, Chuck Wendig (The Blue Blazes) and Sam Sykes. As more and more of their story unfolded, the more people wanted it turned into a full-fledged film. As luck would have it, one now exists, featuring Wendig and Sykes as producers. It would be unfair to reveal the Twitter conversation because it might ruin the impact of the movie. The less a person knows, the better; however, it would not hurt to read the following super-brief synopsis just to pique the interest of a Horror enthusiast:
One fine day, Sam (Fran Kranz: The Cabin In The Woods 2012, Rebirth 2016), who is covered in blood, has been dodging death at the hands of a deranged killer wearing a mask. While hiding in a cabin (in the woods—BOOM!), Sam calls his good friend, Chuck (Alyson Hannigan: Dead Man On Campus 1998, Do You Take This Man 2016) for help with his very scary situation. Sam relies on her (yes—her) since Chuck is all-knowing when it comes to anything Horror. Soon, Sam starts piecing together everything that has happened before his phone call to Chuck… and this is where the synopsis ends, but it should be known that You Might Be The Killer takes place at a camp, and that there are several camp counselors along for the ride.
You Might Be The Killer immediately, and forcibly plants the soft tushies of men, women, and children alike in his or her seat from the moment the title screen appears. It will strongly grab the viewer, never to loosen its grip until the very last scene. Audiences will be treated to some fantastic cinematography (Andrew Strahorn) and some quick heartbeat-like editing (Stephen Pfeil) that create what seems the heart of the movie, keeping its blood flowing straight through the end. The practical SFX is a treat for all Horror fans dedicated to hating on fake-lookin’ CGI; for when You Might Be The Killer gets bloody, there will be no denying the charm of its gorier moments. These gory-kill moments are not overly brutalized, either, nor ugly to watch.
Instead, as funny as this may seem, the kills are fun, just like that of old Friday The 13th films, where when someone is about to be offed, it is suggested—not seen. But all of this fun would not be if not for the music of Andrew Morgan Smith, who seems to have combined and captured every element from the sounds of ’80s and ’90s Horror films into his own unique blend. While some of the score might sound familiar… this might also be on purpose – including one bit that resembles the score from 1987’s Predator. Whatever the case, Morgan Smith’s score is a welcoming surprise, and is what helps to keep the chill along the spine.
The very arms and shoulders of Director/Co-Writer Brett Simmons (Husk 2011, Animal 2014) might be extremely tired since the release of You Might Be The Killer, having had probably shaken thousands, upon thousands of hands of happy people lucky enough to have seen his film. Simmons re-molds and re-polishes the Slasher genre with his unique style of imagination with You Might Be The Killer, and it shows every second of every scene.
What Simmons, main screenwriter Thomas P. Vitale, Wendig, and Sykes have created here is not just an ordinary Horror/Slasher film: they all crafted one heck of a Horror/Slasher parody—in so many ways that cannot, and will not, be revealed so that not an ounce of fun is stolen from the audience. The dialogue alone is nifty, never dull, and always ahead of itself – meaning, if the viewer starts questioning a character, not more than a split-second does an answer arrive. You Might Be The Killer is overly-smart, is tongue-in-cheek funny, and is plenty scary.
The entire cast works like a close-knit family, here, giving true, genuine moments of togetherness. Because of this genuinity, it would seem as if neither of the actors involved had ever rehearsed his or her own parts, that whatever is happening in the film was really happening to them, so their reactions and dialogue just seemed matter-of-fact. Their on-screen presence makes the movie work so well. The dynamics between Kranz and Hannigan are a hoot to watch. It is best the viewer pays close attention to every piece of advice Hannigan’s Chuck has to offer – including one quick bit about “lightning…”
One more thing needs to be mentioned, and this is the most important. You Might Be The Killer is one of the most welcoming additions to the Slasher/Horror genre since 2018’s A Place In Hell, and is so darn good and fun to watch that many will wish the movie would not end. So make sure there is a big bucket of popcorn in hand: sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Premiering at the HorrorHaus Film Festival in LA the first weekend of November, and soon to be available on VOD, iTunes, as well as DVD, CrypticRock unflinchingly rates You Might Be The Killer 5 out of 5 stars.
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