A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life

Year: 2019

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

Director: Staten Cousins Roe

Echo Score: 67
CrimeComedyThriller

Unleash the inner you. Louise Farnt is obsessed with the world of self-help. And when she meets the not necessarily sane guru wannabe Val Stone, a murderous spree begins.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life (2019) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In a world where self‑help slogans flicker from coffee shop chalkboards to late‑night radio, Lou Farnt drifts through a life weighed down by low confidence and a domineering mother. Her days are a collage of borrowed affirmations and restless yearning for a breakthrough that feels forever out of reach. The film’s tone hovers between dark humor and unsettling realism, turning the glossy veneer of motivational culture into a mirror that reflects both hope and hollowness.

At a fleeting encounter during a seminar, Lou is drawn to Val Stone, a charismatic figure who presents herself as a transformative guide. Val’s confidence is magnetic, promising the kind of radical change that Lou has been craving. Their connection feels like the missing piece of a puzzle neither fully understands, setting the stage for a partnership that is as intriguing as it is precarious.

Together they embark on a road‑bound exploration of alternative healing practices, moving from one eccentric retreat to the next. The journey is framed by a series of quirky, almost ritualistic settings—a wilderness camp, a house devoted to “sonic vibration,” and a workshop that mixes laughter with introspection. These stops serve as both backdrop and catalyst, amplifying Lou’s inner turmoil while teasing the possibility that the answers she seeks might lie outside the conventional comfort of home.

Through sharply observed dialogue and a visual style that blends the mundane with the bizarre, the film probes the thin line between self‑improvement and self‑destruction. As Lou and Val navigate this labyrinth of modern mysticism, the audience is left wondering how far one will go when the promise of a better self becomes entangled with forces that are far darker than any bestseller could anticipate.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 14:45

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Dark Comedy Crime Thrillers like A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life

Grim narratives laced with unsettling, satirical humor and moral decay.If you enjoyed the grim humor and violent satire of A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life, explore more movies that masterfully blend crime thrills with dark comedy. These films offer a similar mix of tension and unsettling laughs, often featuring morally ambiguous characters and a satirical take on serious themes.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often follow characters on a destructive path, where criminal acts are portrayed with a sense of absurdity or irony. The narrative balances moments of genuine tension and violence with comedic beats that undercut the seriousness, creating a uniquely unsettling and thought-provoking tone.

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Stories of vulnerable individuals led astray by charismatic but dangerous guides.Fans of the twisted relationship in A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life will find more compelling stories about psychological manipulation and toxic mentorship. These films explore the dangerous dynamics between a vulnerable seeker and a charismatic but destructive leader, leading to shocking transformations and moral collapses.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a power dynamic: a lost individual searching for purpose encounters a mentor who offers a radical, often violent, path to self-actualization. The plot follows the protégé's gradual indoctrination, their participation in increasingly extreme acts, and the eventual confrontation with the reality of their situation, often leading to an ambiguous or tragic conclusion.

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These films are connected by their deep exploration of the psychology of influence and corruption. They share a heavy emotional weight, a steady pacing that allows for character degradation, and a focus on themes like delusion, identity, and the dark side of seeking guidance, resulting in a similarly intense and psychologically complex experience.

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A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life Summary

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A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life

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