Great Kills

Great Kills nails the fly-on-the-wall documentary style while cleverly flipping the genre on its head. Each episode is a sharp, hilarious satire that exposes the absurdities behind true crime filmmaking. Steve Stanulis brings infectious energy to his hitman role, and James Merendino delivers a tightly crafted, standout series. The writing is top-tier, brought to life by an exceptional cast. While the premise-a documentarian following a hitman-sounds outrageous, the execution is surprisingly gripping. The violence is raw and unfiltered, adding to the show's edgy appeal. As I binge through the weekend, I'm already hyped for what's next.

I have been rewatching mockumentaries when this one popped up for me to watch. I am in Europe, and with my VPN, I gained access to a US streaming service that allows me to see old movies. This show is new.

Lucky me. Here we have a film crew following this guy who is a hitman. So... "Man Bites Dog," right? No. It's different in so many ways. It's more like Woody Allen and Diane Keaton following Robert De Niro. Honestly.

The show has its limitations. It clearly had no money. However, it works in its favor if you are patient.

But I have to say, this actor Steve Stanulis, whom I also googled and still don't know of, is a stunningly good actor. This show is off the grid, so where did this guy who plays the hitman come from? His performance holds together eight episodes with ease. There is very little story here, and I applaud the filmmakers for making something out of nothing. But my high score is based on this actor who is on par with any of the great American actors of the '70s. I am not joking. Just watch the show with eyes that understand the limitations. The supporting cast is very good, but there's this actor who is clearly not as famous as say, Stellan Skarsgård, yet there he is, just as good, carrying five hours on his shoulders.

This show might be a bit messy for your average viewer who is used to watching slick productions. However, it is a milestone for the genre, much like "Man Bites Dog" was a milestone.

My first review. I saw this movie because I follow James Merendino on Facebook. I saw a trailer there and thought, meh. I don't always like his stuff. LIke his last movie was yikes. But, I watched the whole show last night in one go. It is fire. It's really dark and funny and very much worth the watch. Even the low budget feel works. It's a mockumentary like the Office, which I hate. But The acting is so real and also so hysterical. The guy who plays Tom the hit man is really amazing. I never saw him before, but he is top tier acting wise. And James is in it as the director. He's pretty damn funny and more or less how he is on his live streams. Like I said. Everyone is good accept a couple of the tiny roles, but they are gone quick and it didn't bother me. I'm bad at this. But I recommend it. I hate most things. I Love this one. (Either the numbers are off or there is an episode missing)

What happens in Staten Island stays in Staten Island!

I love the dark humor throughout this series. It is a great binge. Funny and very suspenseful.

Amazing performances directed by none other than iconic SLC Punk! Director James Merendino, who also plays a key role in the series. Steve Stanulis reminds me of Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

Love all the female actors who play the co-director, the mob-boss the girlfriend and the grandma. Such interesting multi-dimensional female characters. Women of Staten Island are hardcore.

I can't wait to see where the characters are next season. What a great Tubi surprise!

It's a great show. Steve Stanulis is remarkable as are the rest of the cast. Honest performances and on point. Shot well. Story is solid. And it's got lots of laughs.

It's an eight part series with lots of laughs. It's got a pretty cynical view on the media and life in general, which I like.

And I would recommend this to anyone that just wants a quick and fun experience.

I'm not gonna say it's a masterpiece. But it's a masterpiece. These guys nailed it. Seriously. I never write reviews. Congrats to all involved. I hope there's more to come from this group. I really had a good time. I gave it a 10.