Movies: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer (2024) by Tolga Karaçelik: A Darkly Comedic Muse
- dailyentertainment95
- Sep 15
- 5 min read
When Reality Blurs with Fiction The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer is a 2024 black comedy film directed by Turkish filmmaker Tolga Karaçelik in his English-language debut. The movie follows Keane (John Magaro), a struggling writer and a man in a failing marriage, who is desperate for inspiration for his second novel. His life takes a bizarre turn when he befriends a retired serial killer, Kollmick (Steve Buscemi), who offers to be his muse. As Kollmick's methods blur the line between a therapist and a murder consultant, Keane's life with his wife, Suzie (Britt Lower), becomes increasingly strange and dangerous. The film is a darkly comedic exploration of the creative process and the true-crime obsession that permeates modern culture.
Why to watch this movie: A Quirky Blend of Genres This film is a compelling watch for its unique blend of dark comedy, marital drama, and thriller elements, all held together by a stellar cast.
A captivating performance from Steve Buscemi: Buscemi's portrayal of the eccentric and surprisingly helpful ex-serial killer is both unsettling and hilarious. His dry, understated delivery is the comedic anchor of the film.
A fresh and funny premise: The film's bizarre and quirky setup—a serial killer acting as a marriage counselor—is a brilliant concept that allows for a clever and unpredictable narrative. It's a comedic deconstruction of the crime genre.
Smart dialogue and visual humor: The film's strength lies in its witty script and clever visual gags. The dynamic between the three leads is a masterclass in awkward, deadpan humor, making even the most mundane conversations feel tense and funny.
Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/psycho-therapy-the-shallow-tale-of-a-writer-who-decided-to-write-about-a-serial-killer (US), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/psycho-therapy-the-shallow-tale-of-a-writer-who-decided-to-write-about-a-serial-killer (Canada), https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/psycho-therapy-the-shallow-tale-of-a-writer-who-decided-to-write-about-a-serial-killer (UK)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17492148/
What Trend is followed?: The 'Meta-Narrative' Film The Shallow Tale is a prime example of a meta-narrative film, a growing trend in which a film acknowledges its own fictional nature.
Art about art: The movie is not just about a writer, it is about the very act of storytelling. The character of Keane is a stand-in for the artist, and the film satirizes the process of seeking inspiration, blurring the line between the film's plot and the novel Keane is trying to write.
Breaking the fourth wall (implicitly): The film's title, which reads like a logline, and its self-aware humor, signal to the audience that they are watching a constructed narrative. This invites viewers to think critically about the filmmaking process itself, a key characteristic of the meta-narrative trend.
Director's Vision: Finding Meaning in Absurdity Tolga Karaçelik's vision for his English-language debut is to create a film that embraces absurdity in order to find some deeper truth about the human condition.
The absurdity of modern life: The director's goal is to mirror the strange and nonsensical nature of modern life. The film uses its outlandish premise to explore real, relatable issues like a failing marriage and an artist's creative block.
A unique blend of genre: Karaçelik is not interested in sticking to one genre. His vision is to mix elements of comedy, drama, and thriller to create a film that is tonally unique and unpredictable, keeping the audience on their toes.
Themes: The Creative Process, Communication Breakdown, and the Banality of Evil The film's offbeat premise allows it to explore several complex themes.
The Shallow Nature of Art: The title itself suggests a critique of the creative process. Keane, the writer, is not writing from a place of deep emotion, but rather for a paycheck. His quest to find a compelling story highlights the shallow, often exploitative, nature of content creation.
Miscommunication as a source of comedy and tragedy: A central theme is the complete failure of communication between Keane and Suzie. Their problems are not malicious, but simply a result of them not talking to each other. The film uses this miscommunication as a source of both humor and escalating chaos.
The Normalization of Violence: The film subtly touches on the idea that violence, particularly in the form of "true crime," has become so commonplace in popular culture that a retired serial killer can be seen as just another source of content. The killer's methods are not horrifying; they are framed as mundane, almost therapeutic.
Key success factors: An Unconventional Premise and a Standout Cast The film's success is due to its originality and its perfectly cast leads.
The novelty of the concept: The bizarre premise of a serial killer helping a writer and fixing a marriage is a creative hook that immediately grabs the audience's attention.
Perfect casting: Steve Buscemi and John Magaro have a brilliant comedic chemistry that sells the absurdity of their interactions. Buscemi's signature deadpan style is perfect for the role of a surprisingly reasonable murderer.
A well-executed blend of tones: The film manages to be both genuinely funny and surprisingly poignant, avoiding falling into the trap of being a one-note dark comedy. It's this tonal balance that makes the film feel fresh and engaging.
Awards and Nominations: A Tribeca Audience Favorite The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, where it was named a runner-up for the Audience Award in the Narrative competition. This early recognition signals its strong reception among viewers.
Critics Reception: Flawed but Engaging The critical reception was mixed but largely positive, with most critics acknowledging the film's originality and strong performances despite some narrative flaws.
Disappointment Media: The reviewer praised the title but found the film itself to be "mediocre," stating that it "does not deliver on that promise." The review criticized the film's uneven tone and its failure to fully explore its interesting premise.
Elements of Madness: This review gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling it a "compelling, darkly comedic, thriller worth spending some time on." It praised the cast and the "smart cinematography" that "never stoops to over-explaining its hand."
The Twin Geeks: This review called the film "impeccably shot" and praised the cast, but felt that it "lacks depth" in its ideas and rushes its climax.
Overall, critics found the film to be a successful and entertaining, if not entirely perfect, debut that is elevated by its strong cast and unique premise.
Reviews: An Entertaining and Funny Film Audience reviews and general commentary have been mostly positive, with viewers finding the film to be a fun and engaging ride.
Audience Reviews (general sentiment): Many viewers praised the film for being a "well-made dark comedy" and a "ton of fun." They appreciated the film's humor and its unconventional story, which kept them guessing until the end.
Social Media Commentary: Posts on sites like Reddit highlighted the appeal of the premise and the apathetic-yet-engaging performance by Steve Buscemi. The film's title, in particular, was a point of interest and discussion.
What Movie Trend film is following: The 'True Crime Parody' The film follows the trend of true crime parodies, which have become increasingly popular in recent years. This trend, seen in shows like Only Murders in the Building, uses the conventions and tropes of the true crime genre to create a humorous and self-aware story. The film's premise satirizes the cultural obsession with serial killers and violence, transforming a horrifying subject into a source of comedy.
What Big Social Trend is following: The True Crime Obsession The film directly addresses the massive true crime obsession in modern culture. It taps into the popular fascination with the minds of killers, the public's seemingly insatiable appetite for real-life horror stories, and the moral ambiguity of consuming such content for entertainment. By making the central plot about a writer trying to capitalize on a killer's story, the film is a clever meta-commentary on the very trend it's a part of.
Final Verdict: A Clever and Entertaining Debut The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer is a promising English-language debut from Tolga Karaçelik. It's a dark, funny, and surprisingly clever film that uses its unconventional premise to explore a variety of modern anxieties, from creative block to relationship woes. While the film may not fully deliver on all of its ambitious ideas, it is a highly entertaining and memorable watch, bolstered by a brilliant comedic performance from Steve Buscemi.
Comments