Psycho Killer
The brief
Producer Gavin Polone's directorial debut feels like a throwback to 90s direct-to-video thrillers, complete with paint-by-numbers serial killer beats and dialogue that lands with a thud. Georgina Campbell does her best to elevate the material as the vengeful cop, but she's fighting an uphill battle against a script that mistakes brutality for depth. The film moves at a decent clip through its 92 minutes, but every "twist" telegraphs itself from miles away, leaving you checking your watch despite the brisk runtime. Perfect for fans of forgettable Lifetime movies who want something slightly grittier, or anyone desperately missing the era when Malcolm McDowell showed up in literally everything.
The verdict
If you have a soft spot for cheesy 90s direct-to-video thrillers and don't mind predictable serial killer plotting, this is a perfectly serviceable time-killer that hits familiar beats without much fuss. If you're looking for intelligent crime drama or genuinely surprising twists, skip this paint-by-numbers effort that wastes Georgina Campbell's talents on a script that confuses gore for substance.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for thriller completists
- ⚠️ Skip with those sensitive to graphic violence
Heads up
- Graphic murder scenes and violence (frequent)
- Serial killer brutality and torture (moderate)
- Disturbing psychological content (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Gavin Polone
- Cast
- Georgina Campbell, James Preston Rogers, Grace Dove, Logan Miller, Malcolm McDowell, Sydney Sabiston
Official synopsis
Following the brutal murder of her husband, a Kansas highway patrol officer sets out on a journey to track
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both feature damaged protagonists hunting predators in brutal psychological thrillers.
Total runtime: 1h 32m + 1h 29m = 3h 1m
