I love comics, so Random Acts of Violence lookeed like it was right up my alley. It’s a slasher movie based on an indie comic by two of the most reliable creators in the industry: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Grey.  It’s also Jay Baruchel’s first time directing a first horror movie. After watching this, I hope he does more.

• Directed by: Jay Baruchel
• Written By: Jay Baruchel. Jesse Chabot. Justin Gray
• Starring: Jesse Williams. Jordana Brewster. Jay Baruchel

Based on a comic book can be as much of a red flag as a green. Movies like to use comics as source material, but the storytelling methods need to be different. Comics can make great storyboards, if you pay attention to what happens in the transitions and in the gutters. Fortunately, director Jay Baruchel seems to understand, visually, how to translate comics to screen. 

I never read the source material for Random Acts of Violence. Now after watching the movie I’m pretty tempted. I can see where the static panels might be. Visually, there are some great moments. The movie cuts panels from the lead character’s comic as he struggles with his guilt. This offers an interesting look at his mental state. I wish it had been used more consistently through the entire movie.

Overall, I thought Random Acts of Violence has a distinct visual style. But, occasionally this works against the plot. There were times where the look of a scene seemed to outweigh the logic of it. The whole last scene was disturbing to look at, but I have to admit, I kept asking myself, when did the killer have time to decorate with all those organs?

The Story:

Indie comic creator Todd has “Slasherman”, a popular series based off an in-world serial killer known as the “I-90 Killer”, and it’s approaching its final issue. Todd doesn’t know how to wrap up his series, and on top of that, he is struggling with guilt from making an actual killer into the protagonist of a comic series. When another real killer starts copying the murders from his books, he must face his role in bringing something so dark into the world. 

There is a lot of good ideas and conversation in Random Acts of Violence. Jesse Williams as Todd carries the lead role with the proper guilt and intensity.

What Are We Responsible For?

Violence in media will always be a hot topic. Are creators responsible for the darkness they put out in the world? What kind of person creates that kind of fiction in the first place? These are questions I’ve asked myself as I’ve written and sold projects. Sometimes, they’ve included things I wouldn’t want my parents to read.  

Of course, putting blame on the creators absolves the truly guilty, and removes their free will. Being inspired by fiction, and fiction “making” someone do something, are two different things.  If it hadn’t been one video game, book, or movie, it would have been another. Media is an excuse, not a reason. 

Easy Answers

Where Random Acts of Violence falters is in the third act. The movies wants us to know that Todd is not a terrible person, he was just traumatized as a boy. His comics are a method of him exerting control over the man who ruined his life.  The current killings are connected in a giant loop that brings his story full circle.  The problem is, it’s almost too easy. 

In the end, the “Slasherman” copy-cat and the “I-90 Killer” are one and the same. There is supposed to be a theme of surrogate violence here. The “I-90 Killer” stopped killing because of Todd. The comic was spreading the story, so the killer didn’t have to.  This isn’t given enough time to really work.  

That’s not to say we don’t see glimpses of it, and it had potential. The fans that Todd met at one of his signings could have been expanded to sell this point.   I’ve seen first-hand how obsessed fans can get over their favorites.  Is it that far off to think that someone would go from cosplaying as the “Slasherman” to living as him? The only thing the movie is really missing to make this believable, is a compelling ideology for the Slasherman.  

Also, I don’t totally buy that the same killer that decorated a Christmas wreath with intestines, is the same one that hesitated to kill three teens in the early part of the movie.  The way the film portrays the killer shifts, and that inconsistency muddies the overall theme. Unless there were two killers all along.

So, You Didn’t Like It?

Actually, I rather enjoyed it. I wish the ending had resolved a bit differently, maybe giving more room to explore who Todd really is deep down. Giving him a traumatic background waves away all the good questions that are brought up early on.  But the filming style and first 2/3rds of the movie were interesting enough to keep me invested in the story. 

Final Thoughts

I probably say this too often, but Random Acts of Violence should have been a limited series instead of a movie. Between the four cast members, killer, and potential victims, there is enough plot and character development here to warrant giving this story and these themes space.  If you are in the mood for something a bit slower paced and thought-provoking, give it a try. The kills are gory enough, and if you can forgive a few pacing issues, there’s some good stuff here. 

Random Acts of Violence is now streaming:

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