Filthy Review - 'Uwantme2killhim?'

Uwantme2killhim? (2013)

Review by Jude Felton

Uwantme2killhim, aside from having a rather awkward title, which would have been better served with spaces, as it is typed in the movie itself, is a strange, bizarre little film from the UK. This is mainly due to the fact that it is based on a true story, and a bloody weird one at that. However, unlike many ‘based on a true story’ flicks out there, this one is believable, even though it’s crazier than a bag of cats.

Set in 2003, the film starts with the arrest of the film’s main character, Mark, who has just stabbed someone. He’s convinced he’ll be released soon, from his predicament, and so the film scoots back three months to reveal how he found himself in a police cell.

The story, which I can honestly say that I do not recall, even though I lived not all that far from where the events happened back in 2003, focuses on Mark’s obsession with the internet, and his dirty little play time that he has, with a girl named Rachel. In the midst of their fun Rachel asks Mark if she will befriend her brother, John. He’s an awkward fella, and is subjected to constant bullying, much the same as Rachel is at the hands of her abusive boyfriend.

Obviously, Mark agrees to this and soon he and john becomes good friends. A spanner is thrown in the works though when Rachel dies. To reveal too much more would really open up the plot too much, although if you know the real story it won’t matter, but I will add that revenge, MI5 and all manner of plot twists and turns are the order of the day here.

Uwantme2killhim? is directed by Andrew Douglas, who previously directed the solid The Amityville Horror remake. This, however, is a far more grounded movie, which has its fair share of laugh out loud moments early on, before descending into very dark territory. It’s also produced by Bryan Singer, whose influence appears to be quite significant on the film’s structure. If you’ve seen The Usual Suspects, which Singer directed, you’ll know what I mean, and also have an idea of what to expect.

Uwantme2killhim? And The Usual Suspects, aside from similar styles of structure, are worlds apart though. This is a small tale, that’s held together by some really good lead performances, as well as the obligatory role for Jaime ‘my dad’s hard as nails’ Winstone as Rachel.

I actually really enjoyed the film, even though it has its fair share of flaws. The stop/start feel to the script may put off some viewers, as the flow sometimes suffers, but the story itself is absolutely fascinating, and horribly believable. As I mentioned, it’s a weird tale, but in an age where anything can be done online, not in the slightest bit implausible.

The tale is peppered with one or two moments of surprising violence which, although not especially graphic, do add an emotional punch to the film. There’s also a scene or two that due to their sexual nature will make American audiences squirm; as for some reason they can’t handle sex, or nudity ha-ha!

Overall, Uwantme2killhim? is a strangely compelling tale, with strong performances and a slightly uneven plot. I really would have liked it to have gone deeper into the aftermath of the events portrayed, rather than wrap them up in the space of about 5 minutes. Still, it is a solid movie and one that I can’t imagine you will see another one quite like it for quite some time, unless you are a frequent viewer of Investigation Discovery.

uwantme2killhim? is released by Entertainment One and opened at UK theaters on September 6th.