Set in Brooklyn, in one of the country’s “most gentrified” neighborhoodsPsychotic! perfectly blends stoner slasher horror comedy with social commentary. A masked killer terrorizes the neighborhood of Bushwick. However, ignoring Brooklyn’s sizable minority community, our killer instead knifes and slashes through various gatherings of the hipster art community. Thus, the neighborhood dubs the murderer “the Bushwick Party Killer.” However, beneath the stoner comedy and horror (of which there is plenty), writer/directors Derek Gibbons and Maxwell Frey layer in biting commentary on the apathy and narcissism attributed to the millennial generation.

one of the best stoner slashers in recent years

In an effort that could easily be called Scream for millennials, Psychotic! delivers so much more than a mere self-aware slasher in a modern setting. Gibbons and Frey create a villain who essentially becomes “adulting” personified. Themes of maturity and responsibility threaten to literally kill the endless party in which our hipsters live. The story follows members of a band high on fantasy (and weed), but low on ambition, talent, and money. Characters spend their day stoned and drunk as part of the creative process. Lacking any form of success, they rely on their “‘rents” in order to pay the rent, while mocking anyone who shows the slightest amount of responsibility or advanced age.

a bounty of gore

Mockery comes at a price, as our hipsters find themselves the targets of the psychotic killer. Nevertheless, the characters shrug at the consequences of a serial murderer at large much in the way they shrug at adulthood responsibilities. Sophisticated photography accompanies the sophisticated themes, juxtaposed well against stoner comedy and slasher brutality. The directors made extensive use of handheld shots and long takes throughout the film. This technique gives the audience a voyeuristic perspective, reminiscent of You Are Not Alone (which we also loved). However, the watchability here is further enhanced by an entertaining script and well-blocked scenes. Young musicians, in particular, are likely to find much of the film relatable and familiar. The directors took care to carefully choreograph and plan out several handheld long takes, including a highly entertaining, two and a half minute long, uncut, jam session.

Scream for millennials

Psychotic! offers a bounty of gore, particularly for a low budget indie. The film’s opening kill comes at the tail end of a five minute unbroken shot. As the killer progresses through the cast, kills become increasingly graphic and creative on the lead up to a very satisfying conclusion. Overall, you can easily tune out the symbolism and just enjoy one of the best stoner slashers in recent years from start to finish.

Psychotic! will be available on VOD platforms on January 26, 2018, with limited theatrical screenings in Brooklyn. Check it out, if you dare. You only YOLO once!