2016

This movie is at the forefront of the trend of genre-bending. Or is it gender-bending. Either way, this film has a way of throwing curve balls at you that would not expect, but also keeps to a very simple message: love is better than not-love.

I read this book when it first came out in 2009, thinking I’d be on the cutting edge of knowing the next best YA trilogy. Take that, teens! Except while I was reading it, I found myself only reading it during daylight hours and having nightmares. Dan Wells has a way of writing that makes you say WTF! but also, OMGSoClever! at the exact same time. Needless to say, I didn’t want to read the follow up because I’m scared of my own shadow.

We open on a murder in a small town. But not just a regular murder (because there is a difference), but a “bizarre animal attack murder.” The main character, John Wayne Cleaver (HA! YA Subtly!) works in the town’s only funeral home (and LOVES it), so you know this kid is gonna be messed up from the very beginning.

John is a 15 year old diagnosed sociopath. He is called a freak at school, only has one other freak friend, has an absent father, and is constantly pissed as his mother for not understanding his morbid obsession with death. You know, regular 15 year old stuff. However, he is EXTREMELY smart and this, mixed with his diagnosis, is also extremely adept at identifying a serial killer when he sees one.

The only one who seems to understand what John is going through is his therapist. Who is also Irish. I don’t remember him being Irish in the book, but it’s possible that since this technically is an Irish movie even though it is set, shot, and stars America and Americans, the production company is Irish, and therefore they needed at least one Irish actor to make it legit?

The therapist never prescribes John drugs, he just offers that old adage that’s on Instagram pictures, “You are in charge of your own destiny.”  John of course knows this is bullshit. His sociopathic tendencies are in charge of him. He’s just not allowed to let them make him fear his actions. The movie actually does a very good job of differentiating between sociopath and psychopath. It also does a good job and explaining why although not all sociopaths are violent, some need to have rules to keep them in line or else they WILL become violent.

The town tries to get back to normal, but they KEEP having murders. Now unlike a normal town, they don’t bring in outside help and request martial law. I’m assuming it is because they are a Midwest town of libertarians who can take care of themselves. Unfortunately, there’s nothing in the libertarian book about fighting against the supernatural. Or maybe there is. What do libertarians think of aliens?

Another character in this film is John’s next door neighbor, played amazingly by Christopher Lloyd. However, it is also a reminder that Christopher Lloyd is getting old and possibly more crazy in real life, which is sad. Yet, his addition to this film just moves it along at the perfect pace. The viewer is in suspense, but not in the “something is going to jump out at me” (which is a cheap shot and an insult to audiences), but mostly because you don’t know how reliable the storyteller is. Which isn’t a new trope, especially to horror movies, but you can’t REALLY know for sure.

This movie is so new, it is still on the 2016 festival circuit, so it can only be purchased On-Demand at a slightly higher rate than most movies On-demand. You could probably also fly to the London Film Festival, but if you have that kind of money, I don’t know why we aren’t better friends. However, the cost is worth it. This is one of the best films I’ve seen in awhile, not even just this month. The ending is satisfying, but also a bit disturbing and makes you think. And even if you aren’t a teen trying to capture the forefront of a trend from 2009, the book is an excellent read too.