Billy (Will Bernish) is a struggling comedian with a birth defect--he has three-fingered hands. However, after realizing that by using his own misfortunes as the basis of his comedy he is able to find success. When a peculiar talent agent, Mickey Goldsmith (Timothy J. Cox), approaches him about potentially kick-starting his career, Billy isn’t sure that Mickey can be trusted. He now has a difficult decision to make: trust the stranger or trust himself. Can he make the right choice?
My wife and I have been watching America’s Got Talent (AGT) for the past few years, not necessarily because I enjoy it, but because she does. However, the acts that typically catch my attention are the comedians. What is even more interesting is the fact that the judges and voters (essentially all of the United States) typically judge the comedians far more harshly than other acts (i.e. singers, dancers, etc.). With that being said, watching Billy perform at the start of Psychic Murder reminded me of the struggles that the aforementioned comedians face on shows like AGT. Having watched AGT for a number of years now I believe that I was able to better appreciate what Billy experienced throughout the course of Psychic Murder, leading me to my next point: the journey on which Billy embarks feels legitimate, unfabricated, and somewhat relatable.
Interestingly, while there are moments of comedy sprinkled throughout the film, I felt that the tone of Psychic Murder was incredibly dark, and that Billy, again, a comedian, leads the way. The tone is set immediately by the almost complete absence of light as Billy stands in front of the crowd and attempts to awe them; and as he does so viewers are taken to something similar to an empty abyss. This darkness is all encompassing and refuses to let viewers go throughout the course of the film.
As previously mentioned, however, it is Bernish’s Billy that allows viewers to follow him on this journey and remain somewhat downtrodden and uncomfortable. Psychic Murder sees Bernish presenting his lines in a very matter-of-fact fashion, keeping the film leaning toward something of uncomfortability throughout. I’m impressed by how expressive, and how capable of evoking emotion, Bernish manages to be when his character is quite simple and nearly emotionless. Opposite Bernish is Cox, who I’ve been fortunate enough to become very familiar with over the course of the past few months. Cox is fantastic at bringing to life exotic characters, both in lead and supplementary roles. Cox, in Psychic Murder is tasked with, again, being exotic. Mickey, too, is dark and mysterious, but he is also intentionally unwelcoming. He is ironic, but beautifully portrayed. Cox, along with Bernish, bring the sentiments of Psychic Murder to the forefront of the film and never relent.
While both Bernish and Cox (and Tatiana Ford, Puma) are compelling, interesting, emotional, and effective, I’m most impressed by what writer-director Brandon Block and cinematographer Bethany Michalski are able to create in Psychic Murder. With overarching themes of darkness, mystery, and quasi-slander, viewers are drawn into Billy’s story, and those things are thanks to both Block and Michalski. Psychic Murder is simple, but incredibly impressive. With a number of hidden meanings, superior acting, and gripping themes relevant to the real world, Psychic Murder is sure to entertain anyone who watches.
Directed by Brandon Block.
Written by Brandon Block & Maxwell Gontarek.
Starring Will Bernish, Timothy J. Cox, Tatiana Ford, & Matt Moores.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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