THE LAST HORROR MOVIE

FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER AT 9PM UGC SHAFTESBURY AVE SCREEN 1
Country UK Running Time 80 mins Format DV Dir Julian Richards Prod Zorana Piggott S'play James Handel DoP Chris St. John-Smith Cast Kevin Howarth, Mark Stevenson, Antonia Beamish Print Source Tartan Films E cbarwick@metro-tartan.co.uk

Max Parry wants to kill you. No, it's not that you've done anything to deserve it? he's simply bored. By day a wedding photographer, Parry uses his video and photography equipment to moonlight as a serial killer and document his 'work'. The film plays out as Parry's video diary of his exploits and has a rarely seen degree of realism. Parry grows increasingly determined to direct an intelligent film about murder, but bloodies the line between fiction and reality by actually snuffing out the victims himself. Kevin Howarth's brilliant portrayal of Max as icy, arrogant, and terrifying, but intelligent and somehow also disturbingly likeable creates a darkly comedic, psychological study that explores the appeal of psychopathic, yet charismatic serial killers. Max continually plays with the audience: mulling over the pros and cons of being a maniacal butcher, committing his crimes completely free of conscience and simply because he can, and when he senses distaste from his viewers at the realism of his brutal killings, he poses the obvious question, 'Why are you still watching?' The answer is simple enough. You know you shouldn't be, and that is exactly why you are. Moments of brilliantly unsettling direction set this horror flick apart from the rest. NJS

After directing award-winning short Queen Sacrifice, Julian Richards was hired by Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment in LA. In 1996 he returned to Wales to write and direct his debut feature Darklands, followed by 2001's Silent Cry. In 2002 he set up Prolific Films to produce and direct this film.