Serial Killing 101 (2004)

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

This movie shows the life of a seemingly disturbed high school student who wants, without success, to be a notorious serial killer when he grows up. He befriends a suicidal classmate who wants to be his first victim, and she tries to help become a killer. And while all this is going on, there's an actual serial killer on the loose in their town and they try to use their "killer" knowledge to profile the murderer.This movie had me laughing so hard I almost peed my pants! Kudos to the writers and the actors, because the plot was great, and the acting was superb. Thomas Haden Church (remember him from Demon Night?) gives a hilarious performance as the "gymnasium class teacher".I swear I will never stick my nose up at another Lion's Gate film! I would definitely recommend this film to all horror fans!

It's nice to see Thomas Haden Church doing some work, as his performances are always good. On top of everything- this film was well made, I thought. Cinematography, acting, and the editing. The music wasn't my favorite, in places (check out the White Zomby rip-offs). I spent most of the movie wondering why Lisa Loeb was there, and wondering why she was in a high school flick, when she'd be in her 30s. She and the Casey character acted quite well, I thought. Favorite line was was the coach talking about how someone couldn't hide up a rope in a large gymnasium. Not that that's really a cliché (hiding up a rope), but this movie didn't really deconstruct serial killers (sure, it profiled them), as it was a comedy first and foremost and a gore flick somewhere later.Oh, so THAT'S why they were throwing frisbees...

Finally - here is a movie which dares to go deeper than the surface when exploring the life of a superhero-like character. No, not "Spider-man 2," but "Serial Killing 4 Dummys!" This enchanting movie takes us into the life of high school student Casey Noland, who wants nothing more than to be the world's most notorious serial killer. Fellow student Lisa 'Oops, spent all my money from the hit song' Loeb, looking as non-conformist as ever with those adorable glasses, befriends Casey and his dream.The movie explores how serial killers are really just like you and me: They lock their keys in their cars! They suck at gym class! They're plagued by baby fat and freckles when they just want to look tough!Like all would-be superheroes, Casey has but one tragic flaw which prevents his dreams from becoming reality. In this case, the flaw is called being a lame-ass. The audience watches in suspense, helpless, as Casey fails mission after mission as a serial killer, crawling back home to lick his wounds and practice new serial killer catch-phrases in the mirror. (I got the skill - to kill!) A high point of the movie (other than just turning it off) is the hardware store scene with Corey Feldman. Someone I was watching the movie with commented that Corey probably got the part because he was already working at the store anyway, but it's obvious to me that he snagged the role for his acting ability. In short, before subjecting yourself to this movie, find someone who is less of a lame-ass than Casey and have that person kill you, because you'll wish you were dead while viewing this piece of crap.

I'm sorry to say this but "Serial Killing 4 Dummys" was the worst movie ever to be seen by my eyes. While the back of the cover lets you think it is a horror movie it is not anything near that. I presume 'comedy' would be the best description for it but that is only because the whole movie is ridiculous. Not only the plot (almost non existing anyway, a high school boy with a passion for serial killing isn't able to kill, his girlfriend is obsessed with death itself and in the meantime a few people are murdered), but also the characters, the outfits, the setting, the "special" effects etc, everything is just plain crap. The whole movie has the look and feel as if some 12 year old made it with his next door friends.On the whole, I would not recommend this one at all (you probably can't find it anyway and not without reason).