Best-selling novels like Jean Hanff Korelitz's *The Plot* and stage thrillers like Ira Levin's *Deathtrap*, among others, show that taking someone else's work can lead to serious or even dangerous problems.Neil LaBute, known for movies like *In the Company of Men* and *Nurse Betty*, brings another version of this idea to life with his new film, which had its first showing at the Oldenburg Film Festival.
The movie takes place in one setting and only has three main actors.
It reminds people of earlier works by LaBute, like Joseph L.Mankiewicz's *Sleuth* and Hitchcock's *Rope*.However, it doesn't match up to those older films.It feels like a weak stage thriller with a plot that's too easy to guess.
The story starts with a chapter called "Him." Marian, played by Gia Crovatin, a frequent LaBute co-star, is a filmmaker who made a famous horror movie called *Murderous*.
She's successful and lives in a beautiful old mill with a red Porsche in her driveway.One day, Norman, played by Thomas Sadoski, arrives unexpectedly and says he wants to talk.He traveled all the way from Iowa for this.
Marian is uncomfortable with the visit, but she lets him in.
He reminds her they were in school together and had a short romantic relationship.He praises her home, noting she has no personal stuff like photos.Instead, she has valuable items like those once owned by famous writers—like Truman Capote and Willa Cather.She even has Shirley Jackson's letter opener.You wonder where Chekhov's gun is.
After some small talk, Norman gets to the point.
He asks if she thought he wouldn't see her movie, which won awards and made her famous.He claims he came up with the original idea and even worked with her on flipbooks of scenes.He says he still has them somewhere.He thinks they should agree on some sort of payment.
The situation becomes sexual.
He reminds her she cheated on him during their relationship.She takes it as a chance to push back.She asks, "Is that what you want to make up for things?A blow job?" He thinks for a moment and says, "I wouldn't hate it."
What happens next is too much of a spoiler to reveal.
But it ends in a sudden and shocking way.
In the second chapter, "Her," another visitor arrives—Lila, played by Jordan Baker.
She says she's a fan and wants to get some DVDs signed, including one for her son.Marian lets her in, and they talk about her film and the movie business.This part allows Marian to vent about dealing with clueless distributors and marketers, which feels like the most honest and personal part of the movie.
The film gives away too many clues about Lila's real identity, or at least how Marian sees her.
These hints are not subtle and feel forced, especially in a live theater setting where such tricks might work better with an audience eager to be played.
But they feel forced and fake in this context, and even with the actors' best efforts, *Murderous* feels more like a performance exercise than a naturally developing thriller.
It never moves beyond its sense of tight, confined storytelling, and with its weak setup, it would have worked better if it had been shorter—around 107 minutes is too long.
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