Terrifying because of its plausibility, the serial killer genre has an unfortunate history of varying quality. When done wrong, they oft-times come across as cheesy and melodramatic. However, with the right filmmakers at the helm, a movie centering around this subject can be incredibly enthralling. Directed by Duncan Skiles, The Clovehitch Killer is a new serial killer thriller starring Dylan McDermott and Charlie Plummer. Thankfully, this is a prime example of the genre done extremely well.

The Clovehitch Killer takes place in small town still reeling from the effects of the Clovehitch Killings that took place years prior. Centering around a devout Christian family, we follow 16 year old Tyler (Charlie Plummer) as he starts to discover that his father Don (Dylan McDermott) may be the notorious serial killer. Rounding out the main cast is Madison Beaty as Kassi, a local teen that assists Tyler as he goes down a rabbit hole searching for the truth.

This is a fantastic film. First time feature director Duncan Skiles creates a chilling atmosphere that perfectly sets the stage for the well told narrative that exists above it. Deliberate and suspenseful, there is a real sense of intent as the movie goes on. Confident in itself, the story unfolds with purpose and in support of everything around it. Its candor allows for practically every element within it to play a role. Once things begin to be revealed, it is done in a way that trusts the audience’s intelligence and understands that it is okay for us to decipher elements before our protagonist. We do not follow an audience surrogate but are rather presented a narrative that is able to bounce perspectives in order continue to the suspense and intrigue.

Perhaps best described as stylishly similar to David Fincher, the direction of The Clovehitch Killer is terrifyingly matter of fact in the way it presents the serial killer components. There are zero jump scares and no horror cliches. The scariest parts of the movie are not ones with bloody gore (the film has practically no bloodshed at all), but are rather those that drop out the score and position the audience within the scene. These portions are shown just like any other and are treated as a transparent window into the disturbingly real world. It is this acceptance that will chill you to the bone, as these scenarios could happen to any one of us. This plausibility is anchored by the films fantastic performances.

Charlie Plummer is superb as a teenage boy who has to juggle normal life as he begins to uncover some shocking possibilities. He is accompanied by the tremendous Madison Beaty who depicts a more rebellious youth that is just as focused on revealing the truth. However, the standout performance comes by way of Dylan McDermott as Don, Tyler’s father and the man his son thinks could be The Clovehitch Killer. Understated and unsettling in its normality, it is this performance that stands as the foundation of the movie. McDermott impressively portrays a seemingly regular dad with enough creepiness to raise our suspicions.

The David Fincher comparison made earlier is an important one as this is truly the best serial killer film since Zodiac. Able to build its tone over time while confidently letting the story play out, this is an extremely effective piece of cinema. It does everything it needs to without going beyond its reach. It is simple and successful in its delivery of a wonderful captivating film.

As the year comes to an end, I can confidently say that this is one of 2018’s best. Quality independent cinema is alive and well, and The Clovehitch Killer is proof of that. Getting practically no marketing at all, I recommend this to all those looking for a tremendous thriller.