Connect with us

News

Review: ‘Faking a Murderer’ is a Horror-Infused “Unreal” True Crime Story

Published

on

Filmmakers (and brothers-in-law) Stu Stone and Adam Rodness have done the documentary format (Netflix’s Jack of All Trades) and are no strangers to horror (Scarecrows, The Haunted House on Kirby Road). Their newest film — Faking a Murderer — is a clever, crazed combination of the two genres, creating a unique, unreal true crime story.

Directed by Stone and co-written by Rodness and Stone, Faking a Murderer follows the two filmmakers on their noble yet perhaps misguided quest to track down a seedy-looking stranger they’ve discovered online who — in a disturbing video — seemingly confesses to a murder. Or at least that’s what they think. Seeing the popularity of true crime shows, they decide to try and turn this discovery into their own killer hit. With the support of a distributor (both moral and financial), Stone and Rodness set off on their journey to try and track down this elusive creep. When they bring the video to law enforcement, they’re told — repeatedly — that it’s really not much to go on, and they’re putting a lot of time and energy into what essentially is a fool’s errand. Determined to make this work, they flex, stretch, and break their budget in pursuit of a hit new crime story. Are they in over their heads? Yes. Is it fun to watch? Absolutely.

There’s a sincerity in Rodness and Stone’s determination (and their performances) that makes for a really endearing and entertaining film. But with that determination comes misguided confidence and unchecked hubris. Stone and Rodness really — really — want this guy to be the murderer they’ve been searching for. There’s a lot lying on the line if they’re wrong, so the question is, how far will they go to make a true crime story… well… true? 

Fans of Digging Up the Marrow will find a kind of familiarity in Faking a Murderer, in which filmmakers — playing themselves — use their experience and resources to investigate a mystery. The marketing for the film avoids the term “mockumentary”, instead promoting it as an “unreal true crime story”. As “unreal” as it is, it feels very true; you’re pulled in by its simple sincerity. Think of it as less Behind the Mask: the Rise of Leslie Vernon and more Catfish-meets-Deliverance, with an energy that slides from silly to somber. 

Throughout the film, Rodness and Stone’s various pitches, interviews, and meetings blur the line between truth and fiction; their conversations are earnest, their energy keen, and their hopes high. It makes it easy to lose your sense of what scenes are carefully crafted versus those that unfold organically. This balance of sincerity and scripted keeps Faking a Murderer grounded and honest, while still stirring in some drama to keep things interesting. 

I won’t speak too much on the film’s final scenes (it’s far more fun to see for yourself), but I will say that it’s a great finish that throws a solid punch, while at the same time, lightheartedly cushioning the blow. There’s an epilogue that sums it all up perfectly and shows that Rodness and Stone don’t take themselves too seriously. 

With Faking a Murderer, Rodness and Stone have created a film that is both grounded and completely off the rails, tossing caution to the wind to chase down a wild story. They’re stubborn and recklessly optimistic, which — in this case — is a winning combination. Faking a Murderer may lean less on the “true” part of true crime, but it sure knows how to be “unreal”.

 

You can find Faking a Murderer on Hollywood Suite, or watch the trailer below

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Movies

New Body Horror Film ‘The Substance’ Releases Teaser

Published

on

We haven’t seen Demi Moore in a movie since The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent back in 2022. She has been busy though, she had a part in Ryan Murphy’s latest Feud chapter and now she is contemplating altering her body to make it more youthful in the body horror film The Substance.

Apparently, according to the official synopsis, there is a newly developed beauty regimen that “generates another you. A new, younger, more beautiful, more perfect you. And there’s only one rule: You share time. One week for you. One week for the new you. Seven days each. A perfect balance. Easy. Right? If you respect the balance… what could possibly go wrong?”

A still from the film (used in out header) suggests that this new technology requires a lot more than dabbing it under your eyes or administering a sticky mask. The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was bought by Mubi. No US release date has been announced.

The Substance

The Substance reminds us of another FDA nightmare, The Stuff (1985) in which a commercially marketed whipped treat turns people into zombies. That film is a dark comedy about consumerism and gluttony. While Deadline reports that The Substance is humourous as well as gory, they don’t say how rooted it is in satire.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

News

Airbnb Scareprank Pits Influencers Against ‘The Strangers’

Published

on

The Strangers: Chapter 1 was released this week. This is the first part of Renny Harlin’s trilogy which appears to be a retelling of the 2008 original. Early reviews are passable, but many have said it is not as scary as the original and hope this first installment is just a taste of what is to come.

However, social media influencers got the scare of their lives after they were invited to an Airbnb for a special screening. As they watched the film masked home invaders visited them and their reactions were recorded.

The stunt was put together by actor/executive producer Madelaine Petsch and producer Courtney Solomon. You can watch how it played out below.

Soloman was recently interviewed by iHorror and attempted to clear up some questions about how this trilogy fits into the Strangers universe:

“The one thing that seems to register confusion amongst the OG ‘The Strangers‘ fans is that we remade the movie, or that it’s a prequel. Not really. What we did is we took the DNA of the original setup, and wanted to use that because you really can’t do better for a setup, we’re using that as the jumping-off point. Our characters are different. Our scares and our beats are very different. It’s all setting up a bigger story. You’re following these characters, and you will really get to know the protagonist and antagonist, and as they go through, it’s like they almost know each other.”

The Strangers: Chapter 1

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

News

New ‘Insidious’ Movie Scheduled For August 2025 Release Date

Published

on

Get ready for another chapter in the Insidious universe. Variety confirms today that another movie is in the works and it could be in theaters as early as August 2025.

Unfortunately, the cast has not been revealed, nor how this entry will fit into the series overall. That means series regulars Patrick Wilson, Leigh Whannel and Lin Shaye haven’t been confirmed as returning actors.

Variety also stated that this isn’t the spinoff Thread: An Insidious Tale, starring Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani that Deadline announced in 2023. They also point out if this newly announced title releases before Thread, it would be the sixth chapter in the franchise.

Insidious: The Red Door

Insidious has been a hot property for Blumhouse. Initially created by James Wan, the movies have done very well at the box office. Although the last one, Red Door got mixed reviews, it managed to rake in $189 million worldwide, a hefty haul considering the film only cost $16 million to make.

Jason Blum is cited as saying after Red Door the series would take an extended break, “It may not be a forever rest, but it’s certainly going to be a very long rest. … There’s not a plan — as there has been with every prior ‘Insidious’ movie — there’s no current plan in place for number six.”

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading