Finally, a serial killer origin story that's not cartoonish in its creep factor.
Too many "serial killer" films and shows take the character of the Serial Murderer and turn it into a mustache twisting, hand wringing, thin smile that licks its lips while watching women walk home. When you watch an interview with actual serial killers they are often clam and seem fairly normal, they just happen to kill people as their "hobby".
Chameleon takes this concept and brings it to the forefront of your attention and shows what can happen when a person who is hyper focused and supremely bored with the humdrum of modern life discovers something they never thought possible; the ultimate hobby.
The writing here takes center stage in a way most films cannot compete with. The dialogue feels grounded in reality and the plot takes twists and turns that, while surprising, make logical sense. The story feels like a roller coaster ride that while starts slow, gets exciting quickly and doesn't seem to end when you think it does. Like Knoll's desire to stay on his "roller coaster", I too did not want to get off this ride.
Slasher or Serial Killer flicks routinely put the violence on a pedestal and often times even bathe in it. Chameleon, however, takes a different approach with its violence and in doing so leaves a truly haunting impression that will stay with you long after the credits have ended.
If you are a fan of slasher films, serial killer films, or thrillers in general I highly recommend you check this one out. The grounded nature of this film will leave you guessing if what you just saw was actually a movie.
As a final note, I will say that what held this film back, for me, was that final little "polish" that films with significantly higher budgets have. Having worked in the film and "seen how the cookies are made", I am however incredibly biased both in favor of the films strengths as well as against it's "weaknesses". I look forward to what Andrew Dean will cook up next with great enthusiasm.
