“You Might Be The Killer” is an entry into the sub-sub-genre of meta slasher films (see also Jason Lives: Friday The 13th Part VI, Scream, Wes Cravens New Nightmare, etc), originally released in 2018. Starring Fran Kranz (The Cabin In The Woods) and Alyson Hannigan (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), it takes a very modern look at a slasher on the loose. But is it a good film? Or is it a waste of time? Read on to find out… (WARNING: SPOLIERS AHEAD!)
Synopsis:
You Might Be the Killer is the story of Sam, a regular guy who finds himself on the run from masked serial killer ‘The Wood Carver’, who has been brutally murdering his fellow camp counsellors at Camp Clear Vista. Desperate, Sam reaches out to his friend Chuck, who is an expert in all things horror. She becomes Sam’s lifeline as he tries to evade death by avoiding common horror tropes and save his friends. But when Chuck challenges Sam with the notion that Sam himself might be the killer, Sam must race to uncover the haunting truth of the masked maniac’s identity and the mask’s supernatural powers…all before it’s too late! (Taken from the Treasured Films website)
So yeah, its a fairly standard slasher storyline, but with the twist that the people involved know they are in a slasher story, albeit one that is happening for real to them and not on a screen. And you can’t really fault it for that.
Analysis:
You Might Be The Killer is a pretty fun film. Sure, it’s clearly extremely low budget, but you can tell it was made by people who love the genre. Every single slasher trope is present and correct, as you would expect, and the films real meta twist? Well, our apparent protagonist Sam turns out to be our antagonist, the Wood Carver! He is guided to this revelation by his friend Chuck, who seems totally nonplussed by this turn of events (figuring it out way before Sam does), and simply seeks to help Sam stop killing the remaining counsellors before it’s too late.
Now, from a technical standpoint, the film is pretty good. Yes, it’s very grainy and takes place mostly at night, but I can’t help but feel this was somewhat deliberate, attempting to ape the look of a classic 80s slasher flick. The cinematography is great, utilising POV shots from the killer to help mask the low budget and minimal, but effective make up and CGI effects. The sound is also pretty good with a solid score backed up by some meaty sound effects and a clear, consistent dialogue track.
In term of acting… both Fran Kranz and Alyson Hannigan are the clear standouts, but the rest of the cast, portraying meer cyphers, handle themselves incredibly well within the purposefully limited roles that they inhabit. Certainly, I have seen far, far worse performances in slasher films. Overall, its a fun, well put together ride.
The Disc:
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Double-walled slipcase with exclusive artwork by Mariano Matthos.
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Sarah Appleton and Darrell Buxton.
- Pre-order webstore exclusive ‘The Wood Carver Killer’ Magnet
- Pre-order webstore exclusive A3 reversible fold-out poster
SPECIAL FEATURES
- High definition Blu-ray presentation
- NEW Audio Commentary from The Hysteria Continues!
- Audio commentary by Director Brett Simmons and Producer Thomas P. Vitale.
- NEW A Stab in the Dark: Interview with Fran Kranz.
- NEW The Evil Mask: Interview with Director Brett Simmons.
- NEW Dead Counselors: Interview with Producer/Co-writer Thomas P. Vitale.
- NEW You Might Be the Composer: Interview with Composer Andrew Morgan-Smith.
- NEW Ten Questions With Final Girl Jenna Harvey.
- NEW Happy Hackers – When the Slasher Went Funny: Darrell Buxton reflects on meta-slasher films.
- EPK on-set interviews with Cast and Crew.
- YMBTK at Fantastic Fest.
- Trailer.
- Image Gallery Slideshow.
- Reversible sleeve featuring two artwork choices
- English SDH Subtitles
So, as you can see, that’s a very, very healthy set of extras there, and well worth your time. The packaging is superb (as are all the Treasured Film releases so far).
Conclusion:
You Might Be The Killer is a fun, silly ride through meta territory that any fan of the genre will enjoy immensely.
4/5 Fiends.
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