The self help guide to end all self help guides.
Great casting and acting.
39 Reviews
Hilariously dark
d-rochon16 January 2020
A balanced view (I hope)
louisemarieperry7 May 2020
I'll be honest, I didn't enjoy the film's storyline all that much, but I thought the scenery and film crafting was excellent - well shot and edited.
Although a few reviewers have said they think the topic is very fresh and on point, I must say I found it a bit old hat, particularly as it concludes.
The character development is unsophisticated in my opinion, however that can be forgiven as the film is extremely concise and I think the better for it.
If you enjoy an indie film then go for it.
Although a few reviewers have said they think the topic is very fresh and on point, I must say I found it a bit old hat, particularly as it concludes.
The character development is unsophisticated in my opinion, however that can be forgiven as the film is extremely concise and I think the better for it.
If you enjoy an indie film then go for it.
Ok, mildly interesting, but the "twist" is completely illogical
RIK-2216 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Simply film, quite okay, mildly interesting as mentioned. Certainly the area of self help guru's (who seem to know everything, yet still need to make money telling everyone else their secrets) should be made fun of.
This doesn't quite hit that mark.
Warning Spoilers.
So obviously you find out that the girl in the end, invented the Val character and essentially it was her all along. The problem with that premise is that Val is referenced by other characters. They make sandwiches for "each of you". The camping site guy says "ah there's two more". Conversations refer to two people often, therefore how does the duo actually being one person, really work. Well it doesn't unfortunately and seems a cheap gimmick thrown in at the end.
Overall okay, nothing wow, but nicely filmed.
This doesn't quite hit that mark.
Warning Spoilers.
So obviously you find out that the girl in the end, invented the Val character and essentially it was her all along. The problem with that premise is that Val is referenced by other characters. They make sandwiches for "each of you". The camping site guy says "ah there's two more". Conversations refer to two people often, therefore how does the duo actually being one person, really work. Well it doesn't unfortunately and seems a cheap gimmick thrown in at the end.
Overall okay, nothing wow, but nicely filmed.
boring and verbose
g-878777 April 2020
It just didn't work on most levels
david-9483517 January 2020
Boring and predictable
kathmummybear7 May 2020
Not entertaining the story is boring and very predictable which I could of forgiven if the murders were creative or there had been some dark humour .in short they should of decided what kind of film they were making.
A Darkly Comedic Short Story
Pat10017 October 2020
Don't turn it off early as it's worth watching through to the end.
Yes, it is a quirky short story that has been stretched to make a film but it's still watchable.
Don't read any spoilers before watching or it will be a bit pointless to watch.
If you are a life-coach you won't like it!
It doesn't have any meaning to take away. Stuff happens.
A brilliantly subtle indie
mjsreg16 January 2020
A well-written, shot, and acted darkly humorous film.
I just love it when an indie film has all the elements that make it unusually entertaining
If you pay attention there are very, subtle comedy elements in this film..
I just love it when an indie film has all the elements that make it unusually entertaining
If you pay attention there are very, subtle comedy elements in this film..
Is someone playing a joke viewers? - My ' conspiracy theory'
stevepat9918 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Loser, self-help junkie living as a 'slave' to her deranged mother
seeks escape with mysterious 'Val' her new life coach. Hence, a
bloody, murderous road trip with Val doing all the killing during the first
90% of the film.
My 'theory' is that Val never existed. Several and/or seeming clues point in this direction. First, a flashback shows Lou's mother being smothered by Val and also Lou looking on. Then, sans explanation Lou keeps trying to all her mother. I am thinking Lou snapped, smothered her mother, got hold of a car and headed out alone on a road trip. She alone could have planned the various stops. Next, the radio reporter says ONE dark haired woman driving a car is being sought for serial murders, Lou with a wig? No mention of the two of them. Next Val, even after stabbing/bludgeoning five or so campers as well as the kitchen rolling pin to woman's head murder Val is seen as 99% free of any blood spatter, except when Lou sees a single tiny speckle of something on her face. Simply not possible. Lastly, after stabbing herself and she is lying on the ground next to 'Val' we see a police office leaning over her. Val can not be seen next to her. She asks, how is Val and we see the officer turn his head in two directions as if he is looking for but not seeing Val. Also, one scene shows quick edits of Val strangling Lou and then Lou strangling Val.
Plot hole: Val approaches woman in kitchen, with rolling pin in hand, ready to bludgeon her when the woman beats her to the draw holding a dull edge but very long bread knife to Val's abdomen. We then see Val lift the rolling pin in slow motion and she strikes the woman several times. Why did not the woman, who knew what Val was intending, not thrust the knife into Val? The fact the knife was dull did not stop Val and the woman's husband from trying next to kill one another with the same knife.
For me this otherwise interesting and even fun killing romp did not make much sense. Perhaps this is exactly what the writers intended, so they may be having the last laugh.
My 'theory' is that Val never existed. Several and/or seeming clues point in this direction. First, a flashback shows Lou's mother being smothered by Val and also Lou looking on. Then, sans explanation Lou keeps trying to all her mother. I am thinking Lou snapped, smothered her mother, got hold of a car and headed out alone on a road trip. She alone could have planned the various stops. Next, the radio reporter says ONE dark haired woman driving a car is being sought for serial murders, Lou with a wig? No mention of the two of them. Next Val, even after stabbing/bludgeoning five or so campers as well as the kitchen rolling pin to woman's head murder Val is seen as 99% free of any blood spatter, except when Lou sees a single tiny speckle of something on her face. Simply not possible. Lastly, after stabbing herself and she is lying on the ground next to 'Val' we see a police office leaning over her. Val can not be seen next to her. She asks, how is Val and we see the officer turn his head in two directions as if he is looking for but not seeing Val. Also, one scene shows quick edits of Val strangling Lou and then Lou strangling Val.
Plot hole: Val approaches woman in kitchen, with rolling pin in hand, ready to bludgeon her when the woman beats her to the draw holding a dull edge but very long bread knife to Val's abdomen. We then see Val lift the rolling pin in slow motion and she strikes the woman several times. Why did not the woman, who knew what Val was intending, not thrust the knife into Val? The fact the knife was dull did not stop Val and the woman's husband from trying next to kill one another with the same knife.
For me this otherwise interesting and even fun killing romp did not make much sense. Perhaps this is exactly what the writers intended, so they may be having the last laugh.
Low budget film making at its level best.
edwardstevens526 August 2019
I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this at Frightfest this year in London. While it wasn't what I was expecting in terms of what I imagined a festival of that name would deliver, I was very glad to have seen it. Right from the beginning we're given an interesting protagonist (Lou) to follow and shortly after an equally deep and complex supporting character named Val. Both actors do a stellar job of bringing them both to life and are well supported by the rest of the cast. The story itself is an original and interesting one and the director masterfully brings us into the world of the film with some excellent choices in terms of how the story is told. The films dark comedic aspects along with just the right character development and intrigue made this a very enjoyable watch. It doesn't look like it was made with a ton of money and one can see where the corners were cut but it only adds to the brilliance, in my view. The script is tight and does only what it needs to do and never at any point was I bored or felt like I was being hit over the head with the point. It has a very interesting theme (which I won't spoil) that actually speaks for itself with very strong attention to detail, top performances and slick direction. If you appreciate low budget independent films then you'll have no reason for enjoying this one. Quite simply a great piece of work.
Straps you in and takes you on a bloody journey with Lou and Val
JonSnowsMother5 October 2019
Had the pleasure of viewing A Serial Killers Guide to Life and Grimmfest this year followed by a Q&A with its director and it's certainly been a film to make a lasting impression.
At first it was near impossible not to see A Serial Killers Guide as the cousin to Sightseers, although the director Staten Cousins-Roe states that Sightseers is not a direct influence. But there's no denying that the films share many similarities with Ben Wheatley's black comedy among them the over bearing mother who pushes our anti-hero to the extreme, the jet black humour even the locations are familiar (although the film was shot around Sussex as opposed to Yorkshire).
But the question is despite the similarities does A Serial Killers Guide stand on it's? And the answer is yes, this is largely down to an excellent cast, leads Katie Brayben as the ditsy and emotionally fragile Lou and Poppy Roe as the cold and unpredictable Val both have such a strong on screen chemistry that I never found the absurdity of the film a distraction but instead a benefit. Val Roe in particular stands out as she is given so much room to be a performer acting with her eyes, mouth, body language and she really seized her chance to show what she can do. The supporting cast are also spot on with reliable character actors such as Sian Clifford, Ben Lloyd Hughes, Tomiwa Edun and the always excellent Sinead Matthews all giving the assured performances we know they are more than capable of doing, even the extras in the laughing therapy scene all did great. This is in no doubt helped by writer and director Staten Cousins Roe being an actor himself.
A Serial Killers Guide to Life may not be anything new but it's a film which stands on it's own two feet and takes you on a bloody journey accompanied by the dysfunctional but always engrossing Lou and Val.
At first it was near impossible not to see A Serial Killers Guide as the cousin to Sightseers, although the director Staten Cousins-Roe states that Sightseers is not a direct influence. But there's no denying that the films share many similarities with Ben Wheatley's black comedy among them the over bearing mother who pushes our anti-hero to the extreme, the jet black humour even the locations are familiar (although the film was shot around Sussex as opposed to Yorkshire).
But the question is despite the similarities does A Serial Killers Guide stand on it's? And the answer is yes, this is largely down to an excellent cast, leads Katie Brayben as the ditsy and emotionally fragile Lou and Poppy Roe as the cold and unpredictable Val both have such a strong on screen chemistry that I never found the absurdity of the film a distraction but instead a benefit. Val Roe in particular stands out as she is given so much room to be a performer acting with her eyes, mouth, body language and she really seized her chance to show what she can do. The supporting cast are also spot on with reliable character actors such as Sian Clifford, Ben Lloyd Hughes, Tomiwa Edun and the always excellent Sinead Matthews all giving the assured performances we know they are more than capable of doing, even the extras in the laughing therapy scene all did great. This is in no doubt helped by writer and director Staten Cousins Roe being an actor himself.
A Serial Killers Guide to Life may not be anything new but it's a film which stands on it's own two feet and takes you on a bloody journey accompanied by the dysfunctional but always engrossing Lou and Val.
Boring storyline; exaggerated side characters,
Jo_Watching5 February 2020
There's no mystery, no suspense, and not much meaning.
The side characters are exaggerated and weird. Even though I'm not into any of the therapies the movies mentioned, I think it might offend people who truly enjoy them and find them useful.
This movie made serial killing bland. A true story would have been nicer.
The side characters are exaggerated and weird. Even though I'm not into any of the therapies the movies mentioned, I think it might offend people who truly enjoy them and find them useful.
This movie made serial killing bland. A true story would have been nicer.
Started going places, but ended up at Nothingburger
movieswithgreg29 July 2021
This had a promising start, and it grew somewhat into its second act, but when it came time for the third act, it just wrapped up with a cop-out ending that had been done too many times before. In the end ,the characters were under-developed, and the plot actions implausible. That could have served as a clue to what would come by the end, but when that end arrived, it was unsatisfying and felt like I was hustled out of 90 wasted minutes that could have been something better, without spending a single Euro more on budget. Even the stabs at the pitiful absurdities of self-help gurus wasn't nearly as compelling as it should or could have been; in that sense, the writing lacked inexcusably.
Are reviewers watching what I watched?
tanyatzatmary20 July 2020
Tired old grrl pwr five foot woman beats up and kills silly men schtick. Not original. Not funny. Not fun. And yet it's getting ridiculous reviews, which given it's poor ratings all around makes me suspect that these reviews are NOT organic but bought.
Just ok this has been done better
noahsquires27 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
You have seen this movie done better already. some parts drag on and it just wasn't very interesting. the killing in the film is muted instead of intense which made it pointless. the ending was flat id say just don't bother
The UK's "Thelma and Louise" is quirky and entertaining
paul-allaer25 June 2020
"A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" (2019 release from the UK; 80 min.) brings the story of Lou and Val. As the movie opens, Lou, a twenty-something who still lives at home with her miserable mum, is listening to a self-help/motivational tape while doing a beach walk on the southern coast of England. "Visualize who you want to become!" When Lou attends a motivational seminar, Val, a forty-something woman, reaches out to Lou. "Come see me if you want to change", Val tells Lou. Lou takes her up and next thing we know, they hit the road... At this point we are 10 min. into the film, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this film is written and directed by British up-and-coming talent Staten Cousins Roe. He brings what I would call the British response/version of "Thelma and Louise", where two women go on a journey of self-discovery that leads to very unexpected things. But beware: this is a very British film, with its own style of absurd and/or black humor. In other words, you are not going to laugh out loud. But instead, you watch and become drawn in. The short running time and fast pacing of the film is such that it clips by in no time. The two leads are brought perfectly by Poppy Roe (as Val) and, even better, Katie Brayben (as Lou). You may recall Brayben won acclaim a few years ago for her lead in the London production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical".
"A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" premiered on Showtime earlier this year, and I recently caught it on SHO On Demand. If you are in the mood for a very British, very quirky, and very entertaining slice of life, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it on SHO On Demand or other streaming services, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this film is written and directed by British up-and-coming talent Staten Cousins Roe. He brings what I would call the British response/version of "Thelma and Louise", where two women go on a journey of self-discovery that leads to very unexpected things. But beware: this is a very British film, with its own style of absurd and/or black humor. In other words, you are not going to laugh out loud. But instead, you watch and become drawn in. The short running time and fast pacing of the film is such that it clips by in no time. The two leads are brought perfectly by Poppy Roe (as Val) and, even better, Katie Brayben (as Lou). You may recall Brayben won acclaim a few years ago for her lead in the London production of "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical".
"A Serial Killer's Guide to Life" premiered on Showtime earlier this year, and I recently caught it on SHO On Demand. If you are in the mood for a very British, very quirky, and very entertaining slice of life, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it on SHO On Demand or other streaming services, and draw your own conclusion.
Deceptively ambitious, quite original
peter-stead-740-48696321 March 2020
What A Serial Killer's Guide to Life attempts is a very tricky balancing act. On the one hand, as a horror, it demands a taut, lean, thrill-ride, on the other, as a road movie, it would suggest a meandering, spiritual journey. That it mostly succeeds in this balance is down to the unfussy, firm hand of writer/director Staten Cousins Roe.
One of its biggest successes is grounding the reason for Lou's odyssey in a carefully drawn, dysfunctional home life with her emotionally manipulative and abusive mother, who is probably mentally ill, herself. This is not just a situation Lou, the protagonist, has to contend with, it's something she has to come home to night after night and live and breathe. This is her 'normal' and it has shaped her into someone with nearly no sense of self worth.
The other success is the big twist in her relationship with Val, her life coach, on this messed up journey of self discovery, which I didn't see coming.
One criticism. The film could have immersed us in much more detail of the self-help/pseudo-spiritual cottage industry so we could really understand more about the psychology, religiosity and sales tactics of what in some cases are legalised mini-cults. This would have reinforced Lou's choices and brought a stronger satirical/social commentary angle. Also, more could have been made of the power shifts between Lou and Val.
But this is an interesting and unusual film with very sharp direction. Worth checking out.
One of its biggest successes is grounding the reason for Lou's odyssey in a carefully drawn, dysfunctional home life with her emotionally manipulative and abusive mother, who is probably mentally ill, herself. This is not just a situation Lou, the protagonist, has to contend with, it's something she has to come home to night after night and live and breathe. This is her 'normal' and it has shaped her into someone with nearly no sense of self worth.
The other success is the big twist in her relationship with Val, her life coach, on this messed up journey of self discovery, which I didn't see coming.
One criticism. The film could have immersed us in much more detail of the self-help/pseudo-spiritual cottage industry so we could really understand more about the psychology, religiosity and sales tactics of what in some cases are legalised mini-cults. This would have reinforced Lou's choices and brought a stronger satirical/social commentary angle. Also, more could have been made of the power shifts between Lou and Val.
But this is an interesting and unusual film with very sharp direction. Worth checking out.
British Indie Film at its best
shazbo-5327324 February 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this having come to see it without knowing anything about it. Quirky and tightly written, well acted and filmed despite a ridiculously low budget. I'm not sure why it has such a low rating to be honest!
Confusing when loaded on cannabis.
trainlikeme29 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I need to watch it again. With the blink of an eye you can lose track of what's happening. Also...forgive me if I'm wrong, but this movie is British fight club'esque, but for serial killers. In the mental aspect of it anyway...
...you're welcome.
...you're welcome.
Good fun
paulosav1970-878-70093513 January 2020
Val just a dark side
ks-605008 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Someone just no life live in control of her mother. New adventure is an escape and Val is just dark side of the actress. The theme is also telling us the writer how hateful those life coaches can be and some human being to be so
nice but fake and terribly nonsense in this society. The message behind is hidden n this movie is totally underrated. Recent good dark comedy.
An indie gem. Dark, witty and clever.
akta18 January 2020
Writer, director, editor Staten Cousins-Roe has created a wonderfully dark world as seen through the eyes of Lou, a young woman trapped at home with a frightningly needy mother. Lou dreams of self improvement and a better life. Addicted to self-help guides and guru's Lou becomes beguiled by a mysterious women (Val) who seems to have it all, amazing self confidence, clear life goals and a action plan to achieve them. ASKGTL takes us on a bizzare, original, dark and funny journey in the form of a road trip to enlightenment via a number of grizzly murders. A brilliantly conceived and executed film. In like so many low budget independent films It has attitude and style in abundance thanks to Staten's sharp writing and confident directing as well as a great story together with a brilliant cast who all absolutly nail their roles. To have achieved this in just a 2 week shoot on a modest indie budget takes exceptional vision and talent so expect more gems from this excellent film making team.
8. repeat
natcalgary31 January 2020
Let's not forget those sandwiches!
filmcriticjournalist13 January 2020
Very bizarre, very British, very funny, very good! Quintessentially British filmmaking with a heart. Beautiful shot scenery and a star making performance from Poppy Roe. May be too 'odd' for some but still highly recommended
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