DVD Review: The Greasy Strangler

In need of a good movie to watch after (or perhaps during) your Thanksgiving dinner? Let me recommend The Greasy Strangler, a nice family film with plenty of scenes of people dining to keep you in a festive mood. When Brayden (Sky Elobar) hands his father his morning coffee, his father (Michael St. Michaels) wonders, “Why not put a little grease in your coffee?” Then he offers, “Now you probably think I’m the greasy strangler.” He then immediately admits that he is in fact the strangler, but takes it back a moment later. And father and son share a laugh. That’s how The Greasy Strangler opens.

Ronnie and his son routinely accuse each other of being bullshit artists, and sometimes it’s a point of pride. Hell, they are bullshit artists. They run a dubious business, taking customers on tours of local disco-related landmarks. After an angry discussion about free drinks not being included with the tour, all the customers leave, except Janet (Elizabeth De Razzo), who comes on to Brayden. Ronnie worries that Brayden will leave him now that Brayden has found a female companion. Or maybe he’s just bullshitting and doesn’t care about his son. Either way, Ronnie is attracted to Janet himself, and flirts with her in front of his son, telling her, “I’ve been making my own olive oil in my bedroom, extra virgin,” and asking her, “Do you like oily grapefruit?” And at one point he tells her, “I wanted to watch you go pee.” Now that sort of flirting might not work on most women, but Janet is not most women. The characters who populate this film are unusual and interesting. I love that Janet wears the same sweater in nearly all of her scenes, giving you the sense that this movie is operating outside of normal time. Everyone in this movie is delightfully off.

A discussion about potato chips (food really plays a key role in this movie) turns deadly when a greasy creature shows up. “Am I dead yet?” one of the victims asks. When the greasy strangler kills Brayden’s best friend, Brayden becomes determined to learn the killer’s identity and to stop him. Early on, we know who the killer is, but that does not lessen our enjoyment of the movie in the least. The murders aren’t really the focus or the point, but are rather just one element in the crazy reality of this film. At its heart is the strained relationship between a man and his father.

The Greasy Strangler had me laughing out loud many times, sometimes in utter amazement. Also remarkable are the performances by the three leads. Michael St. Michaels, Sky Elobar and Elizabeth De Razzo turn in fearless and wild performances, unlike any you’ve probably seen.

The Greasy Strangler was directed by Jim Hosking, and was released on DVD on May 9, 2017 through MVD Visual. The DVD contains no special features.