My Sweet Killer

A low-budget midnight movie about a murderer? Gee, what a surprise. But wait! This one's actually good! 22-year-old first-time director Justin Dossetti may not have much money, but he seems to actually have a working knowledge of all aspects of the film-making process, including sound design and directing actors, two aspects that are often sorely underrated by would-be auteurs. The story of a brooding loner (Kirk Harris) released from a mental institution who becomes obsessed with the spirit of a woman who killed herself -- in his apartment -- had the potential to become horribly cliched in every possible area. Dossetti's excellent aural sense, however, and his clever use of color embellish the understated performance of his actors. Star Harris, who re-wrote Dossetti's original script so substantially as to get sole credit on the finished piece, is similarly adept in avoiding the pitfalls of overacting inherent to playing a potential psychopath. The only slightly sour note is a laugh-out-loud piece of voice-over narration which follows the inevitably bloody ending: "Someone should have seen it coming." Yes, guys, any moviegoer with half a brain fits into that category. But if one is in the right mood, the predictability doesn't matter too much.