Laugh Killer Laugh

I had no idea that Kamal Ahmed, one of the Jerky Boys, has been writing and directing low budget films for a number of years. This grindhouse throwback to the gritty NYC 1970s crime flicks, the likes of of Abel Ferrara or Larry Cohen, is fun for fans of that subgenre, though I'm not sure others will get much out of this film. The excellent William Forsythe plays a hit-man who follows a woman to her creative writing class (taught by the big brother from "ET") where he begins writing stories based on his crimes to impress her. It's an interesting set up, that felt very Larry Cohen-esque, but the characters and plot never really grabbed me. The film seems more of an exercise in style, with the players acting out film archetypes rather than fully fleshed out characters. Tom Sizemore even shows up, in true B-picture fashion, for what must have been a one-day shoot talking directly to the camera and not interacting with any other actors. Still, when all of this is packaged in an obvious nostalgia piece, right down to an amazing retro style title sequence and score (by Scott Hampton), this film is enjoyable enough for fans of films like "Ms. .45" or "God Told Me To."

If you are a fan of the comic masterpiece "The Killing Joke", then this is your movie. Give this title a chance and do not look at the neigh sayers that did not get the joke. ;) This film has an outstanding 80's feel to it with the soundtrack and camera edits. The acting from the lead is fantastic/ Oscar worthy with his stone cold personality going from one thing to the next. This also has a beautiful gritty gangster vibe that QT would lend ever so naturally with little to no budget. For those that know the story of the Joker from the Killing Joke title, you will get the influence that takes place here. Watching Frank Stone morph into something totally different is extremely satisfying and makes you want more! There are some great shootout scenes that are not over the top and make sense, and the lead female actress feels very down to earth and real. There are some corny 80's elements that do nothing but lead into a special charm that this film needed. I would give this a 10 if not for the somewhat slow beginning, but this movie once it unwinds becomes very entertaining. I say give it a shot.

A must see!!! This movie kept you in suspense and made you laugh at the same time. They also did a great job in making the audience feel for the main character. It was sad to see how his childhood affected him. Im a huge fan of the main characters. It was great seeing them perform all together. I was especially intrigued to go watch when I heard a jerky boy directed it. Kamil always made me laugh in my younger years. I knew it would be entertaining. The movie was well written and directed, It had a great storyline. I found myself glued to the movie as it went in different directions. A big shout out to the cast and crew. Very entertaining.

Trailer—Laugh Killer Laugh