Reviews

Those who know me know that I often take great pause when it comes to appreciating current horror films or even films made today in any genre because of my overwhelming tendency to be quick to nag on a film's familiarity in theme or the or that it is predictable with contrivances etc. Was I surprised to discover "Unsubscribe"! Director Christian Nilsson and co-producer/star Eric Tabach have concocted a 28 minute short that offers some original twists, a fresh perception on the lure of internet fame, and a subtle tribute to Hitchcock and "Rear Window" all wrapped with a blood red bow for fans. Tabach stars as Eric, one of a group of friends invited to participate in a zoom video conference birthday call for a friend named Zach. What is revealed during the call is that who arranged it is actually a true stranger to the friends and that they are being targeted for murder. The entire cast of relative unknowns (fans of Charlie Tahan, who plays Whitey, will recall him as the child Ethan in Will Smith's 2007 blockbuster "I am Legend") is first rate, never overplaying to type but rather playing to just what the moments call for (including a bit of aloof distance underplaying that was refreshing). Tabach brings a fond remembrance of James Stewart as he plays the disabled Eric, first to suspect that what he is witnessing during the Zoom call is actually real and not a stunt. The deaths he and the others see are actually happening. Michelle Khare is similarly a revelation as Michelle, the popular youtuber amongst the gang, who's own obsession with follower numbers and fame is examined in something of a decidedly frank, full frontal manner. Nilsson eschews gore in favor of minimalist style (almost a natural conceit when your budget is estimated at $1 but there is still skill in making what little you do have work so it bears noting anyway). As this was done during the current COVID crisis, some of the camera shooting was simply the actors on web cam in their own home and on their pc (though some footage was done by Nilsson in his home), much of the minimalism springs from the very tight editing done by the director himself (3 weeks in the editing process I read, with only one day shooting) and the feeling the finished product shown seems to have very little being wasted as far as needless scenes of exposition etc. All in all a most impressive effort from Nilsson, Tabach, Khare and company and I look forward to their next efforts.

"Psychic Killer" is fun 1970's horror at its best. Peppered with a cast of B-vets such as Paul Burke, Aldo Ray, Nehemiah Persoff, Julie Adams, and Whit Bissell, and starring Jim Hutton (in a nicely scary performance), the movie goes at a nice pace and features some tense moments. There are even bits of gore tossed in for good measure.

The film has Hutton as a man wrongly convicted in the death of his terminally ill mother's doctor. It seems the doctor refused to treat the lady once he found out she had no medical insurance. An argument between Hutton and the doc results in a brief scuffle where the doctor falls to his death. Hutton is arrested, found guilty, and sent to a mental institution. Once there, he encounters a fellow patient who has the power of astral projection with the aid of a medallion and several books. After this patient uses this power to kill one of his enemies, he dies and leaves the medallion and books to Hutton. Shortly after, Hutton is finally exonerated (the real killer confesses to the crime)and freed. He goes home and uses his newfound power of astral projection to begin a mission of revenge against the people who wronged him and his mom. Police Lieutenant Morgan (Burke) and his partner (Ray) are baffled at these seemingly unrelated "accidents". Hutton's psychiatrist (Adams)and a local expert on paranormal research (Persoff) try to help.

"Psychic Killer" benefits from tight direction by former actor-turned-director Ray Danton, good camera-work and location shooting to cover up a small budget, clever dialogue that mixes in bits of humor amongst the hokum, and solid turns by a top cast of veteran genre stars. Even Neville Brand and Rod Cameron show up in bit parts.

"Psychic Killer" is not the type of film that pretends to be anything other than what it is: sturdy, B-grade entertainment for genre fans.