A Tragic Love Story Dressed Up as a Raw Serial Killer Tale

Who’s Watching Oliver makes a strong, emotional impression with a very unconventional take on the serial killer narrative.

“That’s what happens when you’re a kid. You have to do things that you do want to do.”

So many serial killer films are totally satisfied to just be ultra-violent, super offensive, or simply make a name for themselves by going as far as they possibly can. At a point, though, all of that gore brings diminishing returns. You see enough slasher killings from horror films and you’ve more or less seen them all. That’s not to say that there still isn’t weight in a good old fashioned serial killer story or an unexpected, raw stabbing, but these days horror audiences are sophisticated and experienced enough that they’re going to need more. That’s why it’s important to point out that Who’s Watching Oliver has plenty of gore, but the film isn’t interested in violence or horror, but rather it’s more a story about survivors of abuse and finding love in a world that’s so deeply flawed. That’s a very unique perspective for a horror film to take, but it’s one that works and it’s why Who’s Watching Oliver is such an unusual, unforgettable debut film.

Right from the film’s first frames, it does an exceptional, economical job to establish Oliver’s (Russell Geoffrey Banks) comprehensive idiosyncrasies and the odd, careful life that he lives. Newcomer director, Richie Moore, makes some unique, inspired decisions to help give this film its unusual voice. Moore blares an unpredictable jazz soundtrack through most of the film and shoots the bulk of the picture with a mentality that operates like this isn’t a horror film, but rather some quirky coming of age feature. This approach is why the film works so well. Just like how Oliver doesn’t know what he really is, neither does the film.

Similarly, Who’s Watching Oliver isn’t interested in making this dissection easy nor does it wish to spoon feed its audience answers. Often the audience has no idea what Oliver is up to, where he is, or what he’s about to do. However, this tension and unsure nature as Oliver’s out in the public works quite well. It’s clear that something is about to go wrong and that anticipation builds to a powerful buzz. You’re often just left to watch Oliver in silence while your brain starts to jump to conclusions.

The film almost exclusively operates from Oliver’s perspective and he often ping-pongs between extremes, which makes the film a continually anxious experience. More and more off elements start to stack up—like the many broken mirrors in his home—and Oliver’s attempts to pick up women and feed his desires become increasingly uncomfortable. Oliver’s actions in the film’s final act where he truly goes off the rails highlight a revelatory performance and Russell Geoffrey Banks (who also co-wrote the film) rises to the occasion of this tricky, layered role.

Read the rest of Daniel Kurland's review
https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3499842/review-whos-watching-oliver-tragic-love-story-dressed-raw-serial-killer-tale/