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Film: Satan’s Little Helper
Year: 2004
Director: Jeff Lieberman
Writer: Jeff Lieberman
Starring: Alexander Brickel, Katheryn Winnick and Stephen Graham
Review:
This was a film that had been on my list of films to see for a while. Mostly because I loved how the poster looked and the face was creepy. This was finally seen by me thanks to the Podcast Under the Stairs’ Movie Club Challenge. I’ve now given it a second watch for my Foray through the Fours.
Synopsis: a naïve young boy unknowingly becomes the pawn of a serial killer.
For this film, it takes place on Halloween. The boy from the synopsis is Douglas Whooly (Alexander Brickel). He has a video game he plays called Satan’s Little Helper. He’s gotten good at it, but he doesn’t have the greatest touch with what is real and what’s fiction. His mother, Merrill (Amanda Plummer), makes a comment that he is in the third grade, but clearly the boy playing him is older. They’re picking up his sister from college. It is also revealed that Dougie loves his sister and she is coming home to take him trick or treating. I’ll point out here, this takes place within a large, island community that is reached by ferry.
Dougie isn’t happy when Jenna (Katheryn Winnick) brings home her new boyfriend, Alex (Stephen Graham). This causes him to flee when they get home where he meets a masked man who looks like he is setting up Halloween decorations. Dougie follows him, because he believes that the man is Satan (Joshua Annex). That’s the mask he’s wearing. He wants to be just like the video game and become his little helper. The man doesn’t talk, just nods his head. He takes this creepy man home with him.
Alex decides to bond with the boy he will dress up as Satan. He takes Dougie to the store to pick out a costume. My issue here is that he’s taken an interpretation on this by dressing up as his dad, who he thinks is Satan for things that he does. Satan attacks Alex and then goes back home with Dougie. It is then that Jenna and Merrill think it is Alex who is this costumed person. He then takes Dougie on a murderous rampage through the city.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. I was surprised about this film while watching it. This is an interesting variation on the horror comedy. The film is funny up until about the midway point where the family finally discovers that Satan isn’t Alex. It has a tonal shift from that point. I do have to say, I was laughing about stuff early on and the absurdity. It’s also a great idea having this serial killer using Halloween as a way to get away with murder. He’s in costume and we never see his face. He doesn’t talk either, which makes it even more creepy. Setting up his victims to look like decorations and people are even taking pictures with him. It makes this holiday terrifying.
Where I’ll go next is that there’s a duality that I quite enjoyed too. I liked that Merrill isn’t pushing religion on her children and allows Dougie to play the violent game that he is. The issue here is that Dougie seems like a kid that is out of touch with reality and probably shouldn’t be playing it. Should a game like this be banned? No, this falls on the parents. It is interesting that later in the film, Satan switches to a Jesus costume, which plays into Dougie’s change of heart. This not only made me laugh, but also ramps up the fear of not knowing who you can trust or who is in these costumes.
I do think that you also have to suspend disbelief. I wasn’t the biggest fan that Satan murders all of the police that are in the town. I get that there is a smaller force, but it seems a little too convenient. Now if they’re trying to say that a riot broke out and this killer is taking advantage, then I can roll with that idea. There are looters, which originally, I didn’t buy. I’m now thinking it is other inmates, but we needed more for this to make sense. Being that it is Halloween and when things break down, people act odd. It just seems too over the top.
That should be enough for the story so let’s go over the acting. I’m torn on it as it is hit or miss. I hated Brickel. I don’t normally come down on child actors, but he was annoying. Certain things he said I couldn’t believe and he acted too young. Winnick was solid though. I know her from the television show Vikings. It was fun to see her younger in this film and I loved the outfit she was given. She’s quite attractive. Plummer wasn’t bad as the mother. She is quirky which fits well. I also really liked the look of Annex’s character. We never see his face. He has imposing size, which is good. Graham was also solid. I didn’t like his idea for his costume, but they were playing it for laughs. The rest of the acting isn’t great, but it became more comedic. It didn't ruin this either.
All that is left then is filmmaking. The cinematography and framing were good. They’re able to capture that this is an isolated location. You can’t get off the island easily. That also ramps up tension since the police can’t get over here. The effects were good despite the budget. They did hide what they could, which I’m fine with. The blood looked good. The only effect I had issues with was when the father, Dean (Wass Stevens) is killed. The guts that were pulled out looked fake. They tried to play for a laugh, but it didn’t land for me. The mask for the killer is great. I also like the set piece for the party, but they don’t utilize it enough. The soundtrack also fit what was needed.
In conclusion, this is a film that uses good elements while also being hindered by its budget. I love the concept of a serial killer taking advantage of Halloween. The ingenuity to hide the kills is great. It is also solid to have it take place on an island and how that helps build tension. The comedy doesn’t always land. The acting is also hit or miss for me as well. It is made well enough with the setting, framing, cinematography and for the most part, the effects. I’d say that this is one to check out though at least once if you want a different take on the slasher film.
My Rating: 6.5 out of 10