MC Inventory: Most interesting/unique serial killer films

[dreamdead]

So Sarah's go-to genre is the serial killer genre, but this genre can produce rote, by the numbers entries. We've already seen some of the obvious material like Se7en, Zodiac, and Memories of Murder, but what are some of the off-the-beaten-path films that utilize this trope.

For example, I quite love Vengeance is Mine, which has a nice ambiguity woven through the style, which Sarah hasn't seen. Give us some others to think about...

[Irish]

Chaser, I Saw the Devil, and Citizen X

[Dead & Messed Up]

The Leopard Man, although saying so may be giving too much away.

[Spinal]

Citizen X

The Vanishing is my favorite, but this is the underseen one that I like to recommend.

[elixir]

Sombre

[Kurosawa Fan]

Le Boucher

[Skitch]

Silence Of The Lambs is the obvious choice. Asked my wife "first movie to pop in your head with interesting serial killer", she said Identity.

[Raiders]

Losey's remake of M is a magnificent film, cleverly updating the film while retaining most of the original's strengths, and complete with a glorious centerpiece in a mannequin warehouse (slight literalization, but beautifully staged) and a performance by David Wayne that for me surpasses Lorre.

Another from Lang is While the City Sleeps. Also, Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre came to mind. I know a lot of people who really like Bill Paxton's Frailty which is a good example for a moderately-seen, fairly run-of-the-mill film with some great performances.

You could also go with a whole heap of giallo films.

[Watashi]

The Exorcist III

Dat Hospital Scene

[Pop Trash]

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer I found incredibly scuzzy and unnerving.

[Boner M]

K. Kurosawa's Cure.

[Winston*]

Snowtown really got to me.

[Dukefrukem]

Chaser, I Saw the Devil, and Citizen X

I Saw the Devil was the first movie that came to mind when I saw the title of this thread. Let me think of a new one.

[Skitch]

Snowtown really got to me.

Man, I have to see this flick. I keep hearing about it.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm gonna post this with an asterisk, those who have seen the movie will know why.

The Tall Man*

[Spinal]

The Minus Man with Owen Wilson is worth a watch.

[Sven]

Apartment Zero
Dressed to Kill
and Arsenic and Old Lace

[Skitch]

Kevin Costner made an intriguing killer in Mr. Brooks.

[Spinal]

There's also Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, which was quite divisive as I recall. Haven't thought about that one in ages.

[Skitch]

There's also Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, which was quite divisive as I recall. Haven't thought about that one in ages.
I adored that movie, and I'm still pissed off there isn't a blu release in the States.

[Yxklyx]

Kevin Costner made an intriguing killer in Mr. Brooks.

I'll second this - and there's more than Kostner to this one.

Also, May.

[Qrazy]

Peeping Tom

[Bandy Greensacks]

Tony Manero (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1223975/)
Angst (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165623/)
Anguish (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090644/)
Parents (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098068/) (debatable that it's a serial killer film, but whatever)

Also, seconding Sombre