Killer Sofa (2019)
8/10
Both exquisitely absurd, and absurdly exquisite
10 October 2021
I'll say this much: 'Killer sofa' knows exactly what it is, and has no illusions and carries no pretense otherwise. Every story beat and detail is preposterously ham-handed and over the top, yet played perfectly straight. The movie is emphatically, brazenly unconcerned with suspension of disbelief, playing very fast and loose with every concept on hand (voodoo, Jewish mysticism, dybbuks) and catapulting enthusiastically over the line into the realm of pure implausibility. It embraces every film trope and genre convention that it can, no matter how specious, and goes further still in making characters and scenes as ridiculously exaggerated as they could be.

Whether or not there's any to fun to be derived from this spectacle depends entirely on how willing and able one is to engage with a feature of this nature. It's not funny, and it's not scary. It is, however, surprisingly well made, leaning completely into its absurdity and making the best movie in that slant as it can. Against all odds, it's entertaining, and keeps us watching all the way through. Despite clear disregard for accurately representing the notions it employs, and its forthright, indelicate, and graceless approach to every aspect, the screenplay is unexpectedly solid, and internally consistent.

Set pieces, props, hair, makeup, costume design, practical effects, and all other fundamental elements of film-making are quite fine. Special effects are decidedly over the top, yet suitable as such given the tenor of the movie. And everyone in the cast gleefully rolls with every far-fetched fling of fancy in this farce, obviously having a good time. 'Killer sofa' bears all the hallmarks of a serious horror-thriller, a slasher dabbling with occult or supernatural ideas, while also incorporating every wacky, ludicrous ounce of conscious foolishness that it can. Honestly, this is a marvel.

Only viewers receptive to the most outrageous of B-movies will find any favor here. I admit I began watching with utmost skepticism, despite a recommendation from trusted sources. But to my delight, this is a low form of entertainment that accepts its labels and constraints, makes the most of the space it occupies, and does it so well as to come out the other side as bizarrely refined. If nothing else is true, suffice to say that 'Killer sofa' is quite the experience; I can't believe I'm saying this, but it earns a genuine recommendation - this is worth watching if you have the opportunity.
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