Iowa-Born Thriller 'Murderous' Falls Flat at Oldenburg Premiere, Critics Say
Neil LaBute's latest film, Murderous, which features a character driving all the way from Iowa to confront a successful filmmaker, premiered at the Oldenburg Film Festival to lukewarm reviews. The single-location thriller, starring Gia Crovatin and Thomas Sadoski, borrows heavily from classic stage thrillers but fails to deliver the tension audiences expect from the genre.
The plot centers on Marian (Crovatin), a filmmaker whose debut horror movie, also titled Murderous, brought her fame and fortune. Her quiet life in a rustic former mill is disrupted when Norman (Sadoski) arrives unannounced, having driven from Iowa to accuse her of stealing his original idea for the film that made her career.
What happens when a filmmaker is confronted with a stolen idea?
Norman, a former teaching assistant who had a brief romantic relationship with Marian during their student days, claims the two developed the film's premise together. He demands compensation, and the conversation quickly turns tense before taking a sexual turn, a signature LaBute move that critics found predictable rather than provocative.
The film's second chapter introduces Lila (Jordan Baker), an older fan seeking autographs, whose true identity becomes painfully obvious to viewers long before the reveal. Critics note the plot machinations feel forced and artificial on screen, lacking the energy they might generate with a live theater audience.
Why does the Iowa connection matter to this film?
For Iowa audiences, the film's most notable local element is Norman's cross-country journey from the Hawkeye State to confront Marian. The choice of Iowa as Norman's home base adds a Midwestern contrast to Marian's upscale lifestyle, though critics say the detail is underutilized in the overall narrative.
“It's a wonder she doesn't have Chekhov's gun on display,” the review notes, highlighting the film's heavy-handed foreshadowing.
What are critics saying about the performances?
Crovatin and Sadoski, frequent LaBute collaborators, deliver committed performances, but critics suggest the material doesn't give them enough to work with. The 107-minute runtime feels overlong for such a thin premise, and the film never escapes its narrative claustrophobia.
Is 'Murderous' worth watching for thriller fans?
For fans of LaBute's earlier work like In the Company of Men and Nurse Betty, Murderous may disappoint. The film wears its influences, including Sleuth and Hitchcock's Rope, on its sleeve but fails to live up to those classics. The most authentic moment comes when Marian rants about frustrating film distributors and marketers, which feels like LaBute speaking from personal experience.
While the film's festival premiere may generate interest among cinephiles, general audiences and Iowa viewers looking for a compelling thriller may find Murderous more of a curiosity than a must-see. The film's release plans beyond the festival circuit have not yet been announced.