Stressed to Kill is a highly entertaining indy thriller/dark comedy. Elements of the plot are reminiscent of Falling Down crossed with Strangers on a Train. Bill Oberst Jr. plays Bill (the role he was born to play!) a stressed out every man who suffers a heart attack and decides to eliminate the causes of his stress . . . permanently.
Marshal Hilton is Stan, Bill's best friend turned enabler, and turns in a terrific supporting performance. I had not heard of HIlton before this film, but I'm now a fan. The more well-known Armand Assante plays the off-his-rocker cop trying to track down Bill. Assante delivers a great, over-the-top performance that reminded me of late career, "I don't give a crap" Marlon Brando -- and to be clear I mean that as a big compliment!
Bill Oberst Jr. is a terrific leading man, and his journey throughout the film is mesmerizing. I thought I was going into "just" an independent thriller, but at times Stressed to Kill is absolutely hysterical. I practically busted my gut in the scene where Bill kills a fat lady in the elevator with a blow dart; trust me, it is worth the rental itself! The tone shifts swiftly at times, for example I was rolling on the floor as Bill dresses up as a little old lady to kill a target at an AA meeting. The sight of Bill dressing up like Irene Ryan from the Beverly Hillbillies had me in stitches . . . but the haunted reaction of Bill and Stan after the murder, a cross between intoxicated satisfaction and "can you believe we did it" horror is top-notch acting, award material stuff.
Stressed to Kill is one to check out for sure!
--Daniel J. Roos
Marshal Hilton is Stan, Bill's best friend turned enabler, and turns in a terrific supporting performance. I had not heard of HIlton before this film, but I'm now a fan. The more well-known Armand Assante plays the off-his-rocker cop trying to track down Bill. Assante delivers a great, over-the-top performance that reminded me of late career, "I don't give a crap" Marlon Brando -- and to be clear I mean that as a big compliment!
Bill Oberst Jr. is a terrific leading man, and his journey throughout the film is mesmerizing. I thought I was going into "just" an independent thriller, but at times Stressed to Kill is absolutely hysterical. I practically busted my gut in the scene where Bill kills a fat lady in the elevator with a blow dart; trust me, it is worth the rental itself! The tone shifts swiftly at times, for example I was rolling on the floor as Bill dresses up as a little old lady to kill a target at an AA meeting. The sight of Bill dressing up like Irene Ryan from the Beverly Hillbillies had me in stitches . . . but the haunted reaction of Bill and Stan after the murder, a cross between intoxicated satisfaction and "can you believe we did it" horror is top-notch acting, award material stuff.
Stressed to Kill is one to check out for sure!
--Daniel J. Roos