Otis

D: Tony Krantz; with Daniel Stern, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Pollak, Jere Burns, Bostin Christopher

Otis is a serial killer, abducting and torturing that most stereotypical of Hollywood victims, the cheerleader. But he�s also slightly incompetent, and after accidentally killing too soon one of his victims, he kidnaps her replacement, with plans to make her his latest plaything: Her very dysfunctional family has a very different idea about that. But like the killer�s clueless attempts at playing psycho, this vengeful but overenthusiastic family brings a cheese knife to a manhunt. This is Last House on the Left as a screwball comedy, taking a few broad satiric sweeps at the bloodlust in modern media. Christopher, as the shambling man-child Otis, strikes the essential balance between black comedy and enough menace to keep him from becoming appealing. But it�s hard to find a better laugh this year than Illeana Douglas, as the enraged and protective mother, talking about finger-and-toe smoothies.

This article appears in March 14 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.