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OVERKILL (2024)
3 stars
Miracle Media. Digital. Out Now
If it isn’t an influencer then it’s a podcaster heading the cast these days – in OVERKILL Cassidy (Alexis VanDyke) is a true crime podcaster (isn’t everybody) and is trying to increase her subscribers to Cassidy’s Crime Scene.
In her latest edition she is talking about the fact you are more likely to be killed by eating a burger, or some such, than being murdered. Wouldn’t you know it at that time an old roommate Taylor (Carol Kim), who Cassidy hasn’t seen in years, is brutally killed — stabbed to death numerous times in an act of the titular overkill, that is where the killer carries on even when their victim is clearly already dead. All whilst the victim was watching the cyber sleuth’s latest video.
Cassidy is phoned by cop Vega (Brian Rich) — who was in homicide, but has been demoted to a research role for some reason. Which is when she learns about the murder…
Her friend Marlowe says she should cover it, to up her profile — especially as she knew Taylor, who just happened to be a big (and rich) name in ASMR with over 4 million followers, who know her as Tinglee.
Cassidy decides to start investigating — as does our demoted cop, though he isn’t supposed to be. They soon join forces…
Meanwhile a psychiatrist suggests to her patient Peter (Thomas Little), who has been screwed up by his mother (that old chestnut), that he watch ASMR videos. Connected?
Then for some reason Cassidy starts to have a vision of Taylor and they talk with each other. But why is she there? This is quite odd and doesn’t go anywhere. The killer also has a thing for hairbrushes. Why? Don’t know and not sure I care!
More a thriller than a horror — though it has its gory moments — the script by George Kaplan is not as clever as it thinks it is. He also directed and doesn’t manage to get his cast to rise to the occasion – this is a fairly mundane affair.
Like so many recent films it uses messaging to move the plot along, which it puts up on screen. However it is often confusing as to who is actually doing the texting as it doesn’t visually differentiate. The film is also poorly shot, with many of the dark scenes inadequately lit so making them muddy looking. On another note I found the music score by Charles Pierce annoying!
Steve Kirkham
