How to be a Serial Killer

This tongue in cheek black comedy is about a serial killer Mike (Dameon Clarke), and begins with a motivational speech he is making on stage, giving tips and outlining steps on how to become a serial killer. The main story starts when he approaches a meek video store clerk Brad (Matthew Gray Gubler) and convinces him to get revenge on rude customers. Brad becomes Mike’s apprentice, learning about weapons and how to dispose of a body. Meanwhile, Mike maintains a normal front with his live in girlfriend Abigail (Laura Regan). From time to time the camera goes back to Mike’s motivational speech, a psychiatrist talking about the psyche of a serial killer (George Wyner), and Brad commenting on what he is learning.


One of Mike’s cautions is to not kill anyone you are associated, which of course happens in the story. At this point everything goes haywire as Mike has to kill more and more to prevent witnesses.

The story is not very dimensional but the characterizations of Mike and Brad (and especially Brad) and their relationship together is developed more than that of Mike and Abigail. The presence of the psychiatrist is not apparent until the very end, so including him throughout the movie was a bit distracting, maybe the script should have had him looking at news stories of unsolved killings that are Mike’s. Also, since the psychiatrist and Brad's comments are framed as documentary style interviews, one wonders who is holding the camera?