A lot of knowledge went into the characterization of the movie-buff hero. All of this, or much of it, is frittered away, however, as the psychotic-killer tendencies of plot and character gather steam. What had started out to be a made-to-order cult movie, holding up a mirror to the minuscule buff population, ultimately has to spend too much time trying to appeal to the vast body of mainstream moviegoers, and without really trying to educate them.

This slasher tale is enlivened by countless in-references to genre-film lore -- plus clips from _Public Enemy_, _Creature from the Black Lagoon_, _Kiss of Death_, and _Night of the Living Dead_. Unfortunately, Zimmerman ultimately runs out of inspiration before his movie runs out of reels.

As a film nerd, I very much want to like a movie about a film nerd who goes around killing people dressed as his favorite movie villains. This just isn't very well done, unfortunately

A failed attempt at a ready-made cult film from the director of _The Unholy Rollers_, this suffers from an unlikable central character and an uneven mixture of dark comedy and straight horror. Kerridge is terrific, though, as Christopher's Marilyn Monroe lookalike dream girl. Whatever happened to her, I'd like to know?