Tim Hannigan’s Murderfest is a twisted, thrilling descent into the dark side of online culture, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. This indie slasher takes a satirical jab at our fascination with live-streamed violence and shock-driven entertainment, delivering a plot that’s as entertaining as it is disturbing. The story follows five serial killers who compete to claim the highest body count and a $1,000,000 prize, taking viewers along for a gory ride that feels like a mashup of The Running Man and Friday the 13th.
The cast brings impressive performances, especially Deniella Alexis, who stands out with her commanding presence and depth. Her portrayal of a lead character navigating this bloody chaos adds an emotional layer that grounds the story, contrasting sharply with the unhinged frenzy of the other contestants. Alexxis Marcia and Marc Rico Ludwig also shine, embracing their roles with a playful, almost sinister energy that makes the game even more unsettling.
The film smartly leans into its low-budget charm, making creative use of different camera types and mediums to capture the events as if from an audience’s perspective, adding texture and making viewers feel complicit in the unfolding horror. The shaky cam can be a bit overbearing at times, but it fits the frenetic tone of the story and enhances the "live-streamed" atmosphere. Meanwhile, the voiceover work, emulating a game-show-style production, brings an amusing authenticity to the competition format.
One standout feature is the film’s diverse roster of killers, each with unique and memorable traits—especially the “Canadian Cannibal,” whose quirks and jokes land perfectly for those familiar with Canadian stereotypes. These distinct characters prevent the film from feeling too repetitive, keeping the audience engaged as each killer devises new and brutal ways to one-up the others. Despite a few too many characters to track at times, this variety adds an extra layer of unpredictability to the story.
Hannigan brings a gritty aesthetic that might lack polish but works within the film’s overall satirical tone. Though some moments overstay their welcome and the lighting is occasionally amateurish, these quirks don't detract from the fun; instead, they add to the film’s raw, underground vibe. The fight choreography, while not high-budget, is impressive, especially during a particularly shocking, unexpected kill that had this reviewer both cringing and applauding. The film’s finale even includes a twist with one survivor infiltrating the game, adding suspense and an extra layer of danger to the already high-stakes plot.
With echoes of Squid Game and a hint of ’80s slasher nostalgia, Murderfest may not be groundbreaking, but it certainly delivers an exhilarating, blood-soaked spectacle. Though some of the dialogue may fall short, the film’s pacing, humor, and clever satire make it an entertaining commentary on desensitization and the morbid curiosity of today’s online audiences. This is a harrowing but satisfying ride that horror fans—and those with a penchant for dark humor—shouldn’t miss.
Jessie Hobson