When the Screaming Starts

When the screaming starts is a horror comedy film directed by Conor Boru.

When Norman Graysmith is invited to the home of aspiring serial killer Aidan Mendle, he thinks he has found the subject of a documentary that will save his failing career.

I have read some viewers in which the reviewers are praising the dark comedy of the film, there is no doubt that the film has some funny elements and to some extent entertains but can't be called as an outright dark comedy film.

The execution of the film is average and apart from some comedy here and there the film is largely flat. Although the plot is largely unpredictable and the actors did a great job.

The screenplay of the film is unpredictable and that's works in the favor of the film. Cinematography is good and climax of the film is superb. Overall an average entertaining film.

When The Screaming Starts (Grimmfest 9th Oct 2021).

A down-at-heel documentary film maker begins to follow a cinema usher (and former black metal guitarist) who has decided to become a serial killer.

A terrifically entertaining black comedy utilising an energetic ensemble. Equally funny in highlighting the mundanities of everyday existence for the central anti hero and character clashes as the plot develops.

The synopsis makes it sound like Man Bites Dog or Behind The Mask but this flick is savvy in avoiding aping superficially similar productions and carving it's own path.

What's particularly impressive is how the performances and thoughtful editing ensure the film maintains its energy through the final act as the story moves away from humour and into grim irony.

Highly recommended.

Attempting to find a new outlet in his life, a wannabe serial killer enlists a documentarian to follow him on a quest to find enough followers to lead a cult of like-minded killers through a home invasion, forcing him to question his interests in continuing his career to follow the psychopath.

There's a lot to like with this one. One of the finest efforts here is the rather strong sense of comedy injected into the setup that keeps this one going quite nicely with the darkness of the material present. The formula of the cameras following the killer around and showing the various attempts at going through with killing someone features a rather nice amount of commentary on the nature of being a serial killer since this goes for the odd turn of having the women be the more bloodthirsty while the men are the more hesitant to carry it out. This gives the first half quite a lot to enjoy about it as the goofy atmosphere established at this point carries on throughout this one here that gives everything a solid touch. There were only a few issues to be had here, with the film feeling incredibly odd with the glamorization of a serial killer. The fact that this one tends to focus so heavily on the idea of trying to gain fame for being able to commit these gruesome murders tends to really come off in the wrong formula. This comes off quite oddly in the sense of generating a strange fascination with the killers which feels counter-productive to how this is expected to play out. Still, there's plenty of fun to be had here in the final half where it turns into a bit more of an obvious slasher film with the rampage being carried out in a goofy atmosphere that's all carried along with the same type of comedy repeated throughout here.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Violence and Graphic Language.

This is something between a comedy/horror movie and a dark comedy. Unfortunately, not too funny for a comedy/horror, and not too witty for a dark comedy. My expectations were low either way, so i found it entertaining, at leat until the last 15 minutes. This is a low budget production with unknown actors, so you should lower your expectations too, and you might entertain yourself. It is not a bad movie, acting was ok and the story was kinda interesting. Of course, not original neither creative. I had fun watching this and i was gonna rate it higher, however the last 15 minutes were not good. I'd say it became dumb and made me lose my interest. So, you should watch it only if you are a big fan of this genre. Otherwise, there are far better movies, even in this time era.

Very obviously written, acted, and directed by local theater types, whose desire to act and be on stage or in film surpasses anyone's entertainment needs. The characters are cliche from conception to execution. Performances are competent, but nothing special. Very weak concept and the comedy is half hearted and middling. Hits every British sitcom comedy trope like knocking down bowling pins or checking boxes one at a time. Musical score is canned and intrusive. Just not funny or original. Works best at keeping the participants busy with their just barely on the right side of competent theater group aspirations, and worst at being engaging or entertaining, much less surprising or challenging an audience. Some of the ideas are not bad, and even get close to being interesting or clever, but the concept is so silly and underwhelming it gets in the way of scenes which on their own might be lightly amusing if not presented as part of such a weak, absurd and goofy concept.