The Omicron Killer was an odd experience. I honestly didn't realize it was intended to be a comedy until about 20 minutes into the movie. But what kind of comedy? It seems to be wanting to satirize parts of the COVID pandemic, while other times it's a screwball comedy. What it isn't, is a dark comedy, which might have served it better.
The movie begins in mid 2020 with the killing of a serial killer who's been dubbed, "The COVID Killer". For reasons unknown, he had become something of a celebrity and now a small cult of devil-worshippers is conducting rituals at his grave to resurrect him. Jump to 2021 and there's a copycat killer murdering random people called "The Omicron Killer". Haha, oh I see, like the Omicron Variant...bet you forgot about that. He's sort of a vigilante, but also just a psychopath. Like any slasher, he wears a mask, but it's a disposable surgical mask. Okay. The rest of the movie is kind of about a group of bumbling detectives who try to catch him, even though everyone seems to know who he is already.
The pacing and editing is confusing with weird side plots and scenes that are never resolved or explained. There's a group of children who want to stop the Omicron Killer themselves, goofball TV newscasters who try to explain what's happening, a hospital nurse who is inexplicably attracted to the killer, a doctor who seems insane and I'm not even sure if he was a doctor. A lap dance with someone...I forget if he was a cop or something. There are TWO pairs of buddy cops. One pair is cartoonishly silly, while the other pair is by-the-books. Oh, and the chief is the mom of one of the cops. There are not-so-subtle nods to Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th that feel shoehorned in.
If all that sounds exhausting, it kind of is. Strangely, about an hour into the film, I started to understand that this might have been the intention. Just to make a silly movie with minimal plot that's meant to be a ridiculous party film. Maybe?
On a more positive note, the practical effects were pretty good, with some decent crowbar kills. Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp) plays the cult leader and brings her usual boisterous energy. It's always fun to see where Felissa pops up.
I'm a huge supporter of indie passion projects and hope Jeff Knite, the writer/director/actor of Omicron Killer continues to make movies his way.
I suspect this may have begun as a story written to satirize the pandemic, but a whole bunch of other ideas got thrown into the mix and made it a bit unfocused. Comedy is a very personal thing; unfortunately, not much here amused me other than the confusing nature of what I was watching. I have a feeling it will resonate with a certain audience. Put it on in the background of a party and I guarantee it will bring people together who will love the experience. Bring an open mind and plenty of weed.
