Kill Me Again

This movie is basically Groundhog Day with a serial killer. The explanation for why and how the main character is stuck in a time loop is different, however. The time loop is much shorter too, as it transpires over the course of an evening, rather than a day. The point of the movie is essentially the same, believe it or not, but the character is extremely dark and most people will not care very much about his struggle. The situation is curious enough to keep your attention, but it is also a little confusing, as the rules of the time loop seem to change from time to time. There is one deep moment where one can find meaning in all of it, but nearing the end it seems to have failed. The main character development is ultimately too rapid and thus unconvincing. The explanation was interesting, but I think it hurts the film to present it in a dark way. Life, after all, is kind of like a time loop that repeats it's different iterations every new born life, and we are all here to learn to be better human beings. So I don't see to add any negativity to that. This was just a dark and extreme microcosm. Overall 6/10. Worth a watch.

A serial killer becomes trapped in a time loop at a cafe.

It's tough to make a movie with a serial killer as your protagonist. Most of the time, they end up being pretty black horror comedies or rather disturbing indie dramas. I guess there's also the Dexter-style vigilante, but that's pretty rare. This one takes more of the horror comedy route, though it's got a fair bit of slasher in it, too.

Brendan Fehr plays the serial killer. He's best during the more comedic moments, I think, and he does a fair job of being a slasher villain, too. However, Fehr and director Keith Jardine fail to imbue him with the charisma and presence of the greats. There's a scene inspired by The Hitcher where this becomes apparent. That said, it's tough to top Rutger Hauer, and it was fun to see them homage it without directly ripping it off.

The violence is sometimes played for laughs and sometimes played more straight. The black comedy moments helped to lighten the mood a bit and showed more creativity. A routine in the middle involving the fry cook, played by Tait Fletcher, was probably my favorite. Not only was it amusing, it also let some of the characters get their revenge on the serial killer, which was a bit cathartic, too.

The problem is that these moments don't really advance the plot, and you're left wondering when exactly that's going to happen. As time goes on, Fehr becomes increasingly disturbed by his predicament, which I thought was once again not done as well as the comedic parts. When the climax comes around and reveals what's been going on, it's a bit heavy-handed and perhaps a bit silly, but it works.

Majandra Delfino, who plays the other major role in the movie, is good. In any other movie, I suspect she'd have been the lead. If you're a fan of her or Fehr, it surely can't hurt to check this out. Horror fans may also enjoy the premise. If you don't fit into any of those categories, it might be a tough sell.

Other reviews have said it:

It isnt that bad of a movie. But clearly it had just ~40 minutes of script. After the first third of the movie, you start noticing that the "action" scenes are repetitive and dont go anywhere.

It has a twist ending, but if you like these movies you might guess before the first third of the movie.

Acting is decent. The "Anna" character does a good job as a victim. Not so much as anything else.

Movie is not so bad. The biggest problem is the boring part! I think the movie would be better if they would cut the boring part.

When watching this movie you get bored just Fast Forward few minutes.

Other than that the acting is ok, the directing is ok. Camera work is ok. Actions scenes are ok.

Many things nice... But not all.

Is this move a low budget movie with limited set? What was the budget?

Director PLZ re-cut this movie!

Kill Me Again is an interesting and creative twist on the time-loop horror/sci-fi subgenre. The concept of placing a serial killer-the "Midnight Mangler"-at the center of the loop, forcing him to confront his own endless violence, is a fantastic premise. The film deserves credit for its clever script and the strength of its core characters, which kept me engaged through many of the repeated cycles.

However, the 1 hour and 48-minute runtime severely drags down the overall experience. The film becomes noticeably repetitive and suffers from bloat in the second act. This is a story that needed a tighter, more brutal pace, and cutting at least 20 minutes from the mid-section would have significantly increased the tension and left a stronger impact.

Brendan Fehr gives a competent performance as Charlie, the lead. He handles the physical demands of the role well, but at times the character's descent into desperation felt a little flat. I was left with the sense that a different actor might have brought a deeper, more unsettling edge to the role of a charming yet psychotic killer trapped in hell.

Recommendation: If you are a fan of time-loop thrillers like Happy Death Day (but with a much darker tone) and are willing to overlook some clear pacing issues, this is definitely worth checking out for the concept alone. It's a solid, but ultimately average, entry in the genre.