Hooptober 7.0

Film 20/31 - 4/7 2nd films of a franchise

Mark Duplass returns as the decidedly unhinged, narcissistic serial killer Aaron in another brisk, essentially 2 character psychodrama.

This time he’s joined by the excellent Desiree Akhavan who is looking for content for her web series when Aaron’s ad presents itself.  She is an engaging, fearless, compelling foil for Aaron and entirely watchable.

As compelling as Akhavan may be, the film (like it’s predecessor) lives or dies based on how you feel about Mark Duplass’ performance.  I find him endlessly interesting and particularly so here where he leans into the over talkative, sensitive and self aware traits that seem endemic of those of a certain generation.   He’s by turn charming, smarmy, weird, shifty, scary and, well, creepy.  The “jump” scares work less well but that’s probably the point.

The setup and execution was clever in that the viewer (as well as Akhavan) aren’t sure what exactly to believe until the very very end, and even then the last frames show that she may have been wrong as well.   Even knowing that Aaron is in fact a serial killer, the viewer still gets stuck in the quicksand of Aaron’s narrative and intentions.

Well done by Duplass and the co-writer director Patrick Brice.  Looking forward to chapter 3.