psyho therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write about a Serial Killer
Directed by: Tolga Karaçelik
Starring: Steve Buscemi, Britt Lower, John Magaro
A writer in a creative crisis befriends a retired serial killer, who becomes his marriage therapist and consultant for a new book. But his wife begins to suspect he might be trying to kill her…
Turkish born director and writer, Tolga Karacelik delivers a darkly comedic farce with Psycho Therapy.
Psycho therapy is one of those comedy of errors situations, where people mistake others to be something or someone else, but does so with aplomb. However the film is not without its issues.
I have a personal itch to scratch when it comes to the use of "in media rez", where a story will start at a crucial, tense moment of the narrative, then jump back in time, forcing the viewer to watch how events lead up to that crucial moment. It's an over-used technique and usually ends up giving away more information about the story than is intended. In this case, however, I believe it was used correctly, to wrong-foot the audience's expectation about that moment, so that when we catch up with it in the film, the context surrounding it gives a different perspective as to what was happening.
But even though the device was used correctly, its content irked me as it involves Steve Buscemi's Kollmik delivering a long monologue to his gagged victim. Every time a character delivers a monologue, or a soliloquy I have to wonder if they - the character - actually rehearse these things before hand, to get the delivery of them just right.
Once we get past this moment, however, the film improves with the introduction of husband and wife, Keane (John Magaro) and Suzie (Britt Lower), at a dinner party. Keane is trying to talk to the other guests about the book he is currently working on, while Suzie icily glowers at him. It soon transpires that Keane is a complete egoist and full of his own self-importance, while Suzie has had to help him through every important decision in his life. After an argument, where Suzie asks - demands - a divorce, Keane stumbles off and bumps into Kollnik (Steve Buscemi), who professes to be a big fan of his previous novel.
Kollnik is able to convince Keane that he is a retired serial killer and he wants to help him write a book about the subject. He gives Keane a list of books to read, on pathology, poisons, and how to stage a murder scene. Unfortunately for Keane, Suzie discovers the books he's reading and jumps to the conclusion that he's plotting to murder her. I was reminded of an episode of Hancock's Half Hour, in which the two housemates (Hancock and Sid James) both believe the other is trying to kill them.
On top of this, Keane brings Kollnik home one evening only to find Suzie there, and in a fit of panic introduces his new friend as a marriage counsellor he's hired to help them. Needless to say, hijinks ensue….
THE VERDICT
Karacelik produces a solid farce with interesting characters. Keane is so oblivious as to his failings as a husband and an author, and is kind of being enabled by Kollnik. Meanwhile, Suzie is the perfect ice maiden, very still and calm, even when dicing with death to prove a point. In a trio of strong performances, this is Britt Lower's film.