Review of Simon Killer (2012) by Brad S — 09 Nov 2013

A visually gorgeous but emotionally vacant story that ends up being a mixed bag for me. I loved studying the cinematography with its interesting compositions and lighting. But it's so hard to care about any character.

The editing is interesting from a technical standpoint, but the films pacing is so lethargic that it makes minutes feel like hours. The music and sound are very strong. I understand and appreciate the play with filmmaking craft here, but that doesn't necessarily make for a good movie experience as a viewer.

I think the lack of understanding the characters' motivations and background is the fundamental weakness here. But I'm very glad to have seen Simon Killer at least once. The imagery will surely linger in my mind for awhile.

And the talents of writer/director Antonio Campos and actor Brady Corbett are clear. They just need better scripts to showcase the talents and bring them to a more engaging story and emotional experience.