Line #24 Film/IAmNotASerialKiller


1	[[quoteright:299:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iamnotaserialkiller_movieposter.png]]
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3	''I Am Not a Serial Killer'' is a 2016 supernatural horror thriller film based on a [[Literature/IAmNotASerialKiller book]] of the same name. It is set in a small town where a string of mysterious serial killings are taking place, where each victim is missing a seemingly random body part (both internal and external). A recently diagnosed sociopath, John Wayne Cleaver, figures out who is doing the killings and gets more and more involved as he tries to understand how the killer relates to himself.
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5	The film is an Irish-British production directed by Billy O'Brein and was shot on location in the town [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia,_Minnesota Virginia, Minnesota.]] It stars Max Records as John Wayne Cleaver, a sociopath who needs to suppress his worst urges, Creator/LauraFraser as April Cleaver, a mortician and John's mother, and Creator/ChristopherLloyd as Crowley, the Cleaver's neighbor from across the street.
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8	!!Examples:
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10	* AdaptationDyeJob: Brooke is a blonde in the novel but is a brunette in the film.
11	* BringMyBrownPants: Cleaver pees himself when he witnesses the monster's first kill.
12	* DaydreamSurprise: Cleaver was people watching during a therapy session, trying to figure out the relationship between fear and the actions that can cause events people fear. He watched a woman cross the street with this in mind, and she got hit by a car...and then didn't. It was all in his head.
13	* DyingDeclarationOfLove: [[spoiler:Crowley's last words to Cleaver and his mother, while exposed in his natural monster form, is to tell his wife that he loves her.]]
14	* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: [[spoiler: Cleaver puts up with Rob Anders' (of 232 Carnation Street) bullying until he calls his mother a slut, whichin he then threatens him while explaining his sociopathy. Cleaver finally taking fatal action against Crowley is prompted when Crowley takes his mother as a hostage in order to get his heart back.]]
15	* ImpliedDeathThreat: Cleaver threatens a bully, Rob Anders (of 232 Carnation Street), in a fairly obvious but legally subtle enough way: Bringing up his own sociopathy, Anders' address, and pushing him back while explaining how he could kill Anders. (while saying he wouldn't)
16	* ImprovisedWeapon: [[spoiler:Crowley]] frequently used objects on scene as a weapon, like a fishing pole and barber's scissors. His supernatural prowess made just about anything a viable weapon.
17	* [[MalevolentMaskedMen Malevolent Masked Man]]: Cleaver wears a panda bear mask whenever he's about to take action against [[spoiler:Crowley]] or his family.
18	* MeaningfulName:
19	** John Wayne Cleaver's name is an homage to the serial killer John Wayne Gacy mixed with a weapon commonly associated with serial killers. The character has a fascination with serial killers and is shown suppressing his violent urges throughout the film.
20	** Crowley shares a name with Creator/AleisterCrowley.
21	* MonsterClown: Cleaver's Halloween costume bears a passing resemblance to John Wayne Gacy's clown costume.
22	* PickyPeopleEater: [[spoiler:Crowley]] is a black-blooded monster who assumes human form and hunts humans routinely, as he needs to feast on a variety of fresh organs to survive.
23	* SociopathicHero: Cleaver is ultimately this, taking bolder and bolder steps against [[spoiler:the monstrous Crowley, ultimately killing him.]]
24	* StalkerWithACrush: Theres a lengthy segment of John just watching Brooke in the dark outside.
25	* TechnologicallyBlindElders: Crowley does not know how to take a selfie and send it to his wife.
26	* TheCoroner: Cleaver's mother operates a morgue out of her house, which is reasonable considering that the film is set in a small town.
27	* TheShrink: Dr. Neblin is Cleaver's therapist, with a role not unlike Dr. Melfi on ''Series/TheSopranos'': privy to everything except the most incriminating details.
28	* TheSociopath: Cleaver is diagnosed with sociopathy early on in the film.
29	* ThreatBackfire: Cleaver anonymously threatened [[spoiler:Crowley]] with a message left on his car, though the "threat" aspect was fairly implicit. As Cleaver called [[spoiler:Crowley]] trying to figure out what makes him tick, he tried to run over Cleaver with his car.

Context Film / IAmNotASerialKiller