The Barber (A Serial Killer)

I bought the DVD of this movie for five bucks at Fred Meyer. Honestly, I thought it was going to suck. I only bought it because it stars Malcolm McDowell, and I'd watch that man read the phone book.

Big surprise! The Barber is delightful! It's filled with dark humor, wit, and some really terrific visual jokes. Oh yeah, and grisly murders, too.

Malcolm McDowell is fantastic, as usual. He alternately downplays the character and chews the scenery. The rest of the cast is good as well. The chief of police is excellent as he slowly comes unhinged. The dim but sweet Jules was another of my favorites.

Sure, there are technical problems. It's a low-budget flick, and they could have used a continuity editor. But so what? The movie is great fun. Watch it on a dark, cold night.

And I'm not just saying this because Malcolm McDowell makes my horns pointy.

Everyone looks for the perfect film and thinks if they do not find it there is nothing worth while. That is why I really enjoy...if not love this film! I need not say anything about Malcolm since his acting and career speaks for itself, but also consider that the films he chooses are not necessarily main stream, but possess some merit(considering his 147 IMDb acting entries).

This film made me think of an Insomnia (foreign or domestic) meets David Lynch (Twin Peaks of course), or the other way around depending on which influenced you first. I can't but wonder if all those things criticized about this film were intentional. The quirky nature of each character, for example, due to effects of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder - http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm), provide the canvas for the film to unfold onto.

This is the one of few reviews I have written, even though I personally own over 1500 films (not that it really means anything or that I have seen them all)! I just felt that someone needed to speak up for the misunderstood. If you spent the time to actually read my comments I thank you for your time, whether you enjoy this film or not. If you have not seen the film, I would like to say it would be worth your while, but this is the kind of film you have to experience for yourself and see how it suits you.

Dexter Miles (Malcolm McDowell) is the seemingly benign barber in the remote town of Revelstoke, Alaska. Dexter has found the perfect place to live, cut hair, and work on his hobby. Unfortunately for the townsfolk, Dexter's -Dex to his friends- hobby is serial murder.

THE BARBER features Mr. McDowell at his psychopathic, sinister best. Dexter's cynicism fuels his homicidal spree, while the imbecilic Sheriff (Jeremy Ratchford) and a know-it-all FBI agent (Garwin Sanford) bumble along missing the obvious. Dexter watches as these two clowns overlook his involvement.

This movie works as both a horror-thriller and a morbidly biting black comedy. McDowell has great fun wallowing in the ghastly ghoulishness of it all...

I rented this thinking it was probably another low budget horror film. As it turned out i was pleasantly surprised by how above average it actually is. The thing i liked most were the Quirky characters, there was some great acting in this movie from start to finish.

You are left wondering whether or not The Barber was really the killer during the course of the movie. You will find out near the end of the film, and i won't ruin it by mentioning if it was or wasn't him.

Rent the movie, you just may like it also...if nothing else, it is a CUT above the rest!

"The Barber" is an entertaining film about a serial killer hiding out in small town Alaska. The fact that almost everyone there can barely write their own name makes them easy prey for Malcolm McDowell, the town barber. Some good character development, and sharp humor help immensely. The bleak Alaskan winter provides an appropriately dreary backdrop for the strangling of several females. Friction develops between the local sheriff and an FBI agent sent to investigate. Most of the story is told from the killers viewpoint, and the ending is both unexpected and out of the ordinary. I liked it and recommend "The Barber" - MERK