With only one previous role as a costume designer on 2006’s Another Gay Movie, You’re Killing Me is Jim Hansen’s debut in the director’s chair. Starring McKaley Miller (Ma, Heart of Dixie) as Eden, and Keyara Milliner (Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches) as her friend, Zara, the newcomer director has a lot riding on his introductory production.
You’re Killing Me – Storyline
Eve and Zara are lifelong friends with one shared ambition: to be accepted at a prestigious university, Pennebroke College. Having been whitelisted for a coveted place at the college, Eden just needs the scales of chance tipped in her favor.
As chance would have it, she shares all of her classes with the atypical class brat, Shroeder (Last Seen Alive‘s, Brice Anothony Heller). who as it happens, has a congressman father (Dermot Mulroney, Shameless) that could just be the answer to achieving her lifelong dream; if only she could get a letter of recommendation from him.
Thankfully (or not), knowledge is power and Eden knows of a ‘Heaven and Hell party’ her disgustingly rich and spoilt classmate is hosting. Eden sees this as her big chance to befriend Schroder and get the place she feels she deserves. So, after pursuading her friend, Zara, they both attend the party.
However, things take a sinister turn when our hapless heroine happens upon some damning footage on a phone that puts Shroeder and his two friends, Gooch and Kendra (token idiot and badass chick, respectively) firmly in the frame for the murder of a missing school girl, Melissa.
Her viewing is cut short as the phone (accidentally left behind by Gooch) runs out of charge. Eden knows she needs to get this information to the police and to see the group pay for their crime. Meanwhile, Shroeder, Gooch, and Kendra have found out about the phone and are just as determined to keep their secret hidden.
What follows is a high-tension battle for the phone as Eden fights for survival and justice. Her predicament is made all the worse due to having had to give up her phone on entry to the party (congressman’s house). With no line of communication and a very drunk friend, the odds are stacked against her.
You’re Killing Me Leaves You in the Dark
For the most part, You’re Killing Me can be clearly seen, even after the power goes in the house towards the end of the movie. However, the closing fifteen minutes (the most vital minutes, in our book) are way too visually dark.
Almost completely devoid of any lighting, the final scenes were difficult to follow. Being left in the dark (so to speak) completely destroyed any of the foundations the movie had worked so hard to lay, leaving us with feelings of both frustration and confusion.
It’s a crying shame, as it’s clear that You’re Killing Me was building up to a spectacular conclusion. A little thought from the lighting department would have gone a long way, in this case.
You’re Killing Me – Summary
You’re Killing Me has all the ingredients to make up a pacey, high-octane horror-thriller and the majority of the movie delivers just this. Heller offers drama, flair, and malice in his blinding performance as the malevolent Shroeder, while McKaley Miller slips nicely into the role of the typical horror lead heroine.
However, despite the efforts shown by both cast and crew, all this seems to be for nothing when the final scenes roll in and things get a little too dark to easily discern. While You’re Killing Me won’t win any awards, it’s still a decent movie for a Saturday night in front of the TV.
