Marital Tensions Emerge: Keane and Suzie’s Rocky Evening Begins
A married couple are about to discover a whole new world of relationship troubles. It all begins when Keane (John Magaro) and Suzie (Britt Lower) join their friends for dinner. Keane proudly shares an update on the book he is working on, but the entire table bursts into laughter at the love story set in 40,000 BC, Slovenia, between a homo sapiens and a Neanderthal. Everyone finds it funny except for his wife. While Keane is frustrated, it does not help that his passion project is a little absurd. On the way home, the couple barely speak a word. Keane felt the night had been splendid, but Suzie is displeased. When they reach a red traffic light, Suzie suddenly tells Keane that it is green when it has not changed yet, and Keane drives forward, nearly getting them hit by a large vehicle.
A Shocking Proposition: Keane Meets a Retired Serial Killer
From this point, things only get worse. Keane’s agent tells him it is time to give up the book and move on, then Suzie tells Keane that she has had enough and is now seeking a divorce. Shocked and heartbroken, Keane escapes to a nearby bar, where he meets a stranger who introduces himself as Kollmick (Steve Buscemi). Kollmick suggests Keane should write a book about a notorious serial killer and, in secret, reveals that he himself was once a serial killer who is now retired. Kollmick is a fan of Keane’s work and believes this would be a thrilling story that everyone would love.
Twisted Mentorship: Can a Retired Serial Killer Save a Marriage?
Kollmick agrees to teach Keane about killers, including how they operate, their thought processes and the tools they use, essentially acting as a mentor for the book. However, one evening when Keane is at home with Kollmick, Suzie walks into the room and sees them together. Keane quickly claims that Kollmick is a counsellor, specifically a marriage counsellor, to hide the real work they are doing. Naturally, Kollmick is displeased by this sudden lie, but to help Keane finish the book, he reluctantly plays along. The question is, will Kollmick’s fake counselling sessions and his very real skills as a former serial killer be enough to save Keane and Suzie’s marriage?
A Quirky Comedy-Drama from Tolga Karaçelik with Clever Details
As a film, Psycho Therapy, aka Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer, blends quirky comedy with surprising amounts of drama, too. The film is written and directed by Tolga Karaçelik, whose previous works include Ivy (2015), Butterflies (2018), and more. The film is clever and thoughtful. On my first watch, I noticed little clues and hints hidden in the background, including glimpses of Kollmick lurking long before he officially introduces himself to Keane, which I found to be a playful and rewarding touch.
Subtle Comedy and Darkly Humorous Dialogue
As a comedy, I didn’t find many laugh-out-loud moments. That being said, I had a few giggles and grins at the situations and misunderstandings the leads continually face, as well as enjoying some of the great lines of dialogue delivered by Steve Buscemi as Kollmick. One standout moment includes a counselling session in which Kollmick claims, “There’s no such thing as progress, only plain cold death”. His knowledge and skills as a former serial killer, revealed in each marriage session, are both unexpected and almost impossible not to find humorous.
Strong Performances Elevate the Dark Humour
Although he is a quiet character, Steve Buscemi continues to impress in the area of comedy, as does Britt Lower as Suzie, who plays a wife that is completely unhinged, mad, and unpredictable to the point where you wonder if she could be a killer too, especially given her thoughts of killing Keane in the opening scene.
Engaging Setup with a Bold but Unfinished Ending
In terms of pacing, there are some familiar beats, but the setup and introduction of the main characters are excellent. After the film’s opening, it becomes a matter of following the leads as they try to do one thing, yet only end up in more trouble than they ever expected. Oddly enough, I found the film’s ending to be a bit of a letdown, almost like reading a book that feels unfinished. At the same time, the film does not shy away from its weak ending. Instead, it openly acknowledges it, which I appreciated, but I was still left wanting more, particularly regarding the outcomes of certain characters. In the end, the film feels like a book with no final chapter, and opinions on this choice will likely vary among audiences.
Quirky Comedy Meets Dark Humor with a Satisfying, If Slightly Thin, Finale
Psycho Therapy (2024) will be available at Monster Fest 2025, thanks to Umbrella!
FESTIVAL WEBSITE:
monsterfest.com.au/australia
WHEN & WHERE:
Friday 17 October – Sunday 19 October 2025
Event Cinemas Brisbane City (QLD)
Event Cinemas Innaloo (WA)
Friday 24 October – Sunday 26 October 2025
Event Cinemas Burwood (NSW)
Event Cinemas Marion (SA)
TICKETS:
VIP PASS – $180
5 FILM PASS – $90
SESSION TICKETS: $21
Festival Hashtag: #MonsterFestAU
Published: 15th September 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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THANK YOU FOR VISITING!
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