The trope of the “charming killer” has been a popular one in cinema for decades. This archetype features a killer who appears to be charming, suave, and sophisticated on the surface but ultimately reveals themselves to be a danger to those around them. This theme can be found in many movies, like Hannibal in “Silence of the Lambs” or Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho.”
The theme of the charming killer is a powerful one in cinema because it plays on our fears and vulnerabilities. We like to think that we can spot danger from a mile away, but the reality is that anyone can be fooled by a clever psychopath. These films remind us to be wary of those who appear too good to be true and to always trust our instincts when something feels off.
“Falling for a Killer,” a film released on April 22, 2023, tells the story of a captivating murderer who deceives women with his charming personality while hiding his malevolent intentions. With his impeccable manners, sense of humor, and conversational skills, he easily wins over his victims. This theme of falling in love with a killer has been explored in various genres, such as romantic dramas, psychological thrillers, and crime dramas, and has been a subject of controversy due to its moral and ethical implications. The movie “Falling for a Killer” offers an engaging and thrilling take on this theme. To provide a glimpse of what the movie entails, here’s a brief recap.
Spoilers Ahead
‘Falling For A Killer’ Story
The opening scene of “Falling for a Killer” introduces the audience to Thomas (Jonathan Stoddard), the film’s main antagonist. Thomas is seen conversing with his wife Marta (Lindsay Hartley) about an insurance policy that he claims he has issued for both of them. Despite Marta’s initial skepticism, Thomas manipulates her into believing that the policy is for their mutual benefit. Their conversation takes a dark turn when, out of the blue, Thomas pushes Marta off the top of a building into an elevator gap, revealing himself as a heartless killer.
The movie then introduces one of its main characters, Darcy (Olivia Buckle), who is an assistant district attorney and an ambitious woman. Darcy is on vacation with her colleague Amanda (Amanda Button), and in a brief conversation, they discuss Darcy’s younger sister Brea (Aubrey Reynolds), who recently got engaged and is soon to be married. Amanda suggests that Darcy visit her family members. After thinking about it for a while, Darcy decides to go to her house after a long time, and there she meets Brea and her fiancé, who turns out to be the killer, Thomas. Thomas impresses everyone with his charming personality. However, Darcy becomes anxious when she learns from Brea how Thomas met her on a beach and seemed to know exactly what she liked, which strikes her as unusual. As Brea goes to spend time with Thomas, Darcy can’t help but think about the matter.
The Killer’s Embrace: Falling In Love With Danger
Darcy’s suspicion towards Thomas intensifies after learning from Brea that he is absent from social media. This prompts Darcy to seek Amanda’s aid in discovering more about Thomas as she becomes increasingly intrigued and concerned for her sister’s well-being. Despite Darcy’s attempts to warn her sister, Brea disregards her concerns due to her strong affection for Thomas. However, with Amanda’s assistance, Darcy uncovers evidence indicating that Thomas may be using a false identity and has a history of making insurance claims for deceased wives under the same name with different surnames. As an assistant DA experienced in such cases, Darcy’s skepticism towards Thomas since their initial meeting appears to be well-founded.
As the movie progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Thomas is fixated on killing Brea. He even goes as far as to take out an overnight insurance policy on her. However, Brea’s maid, Kristina (Hadassah Patterson), who is hearing-impaired but adept at lip-reading, picks up on Thomas’s malevolent intentions and tries to warn Darcy. When Thomas realizes that Kristina poses a threat to his plans, he poisons her, causing her to fall into a coma. Darcy becomes even more convinced that Thomas is a killer and confronts him in front of her family. However, Brea and Darcy’s parents refuse to believe Thomas is capable of such heinous acts, leaving Darcy heartbroken. Additionally, Darcy has a strained relationship with her father, who wanted her to work for his firm, but she chose a different one. Upon seeing her medals and mementos in her father’s office, Darcy becomes emotional and takes one of her cherished keepsakes before leaving her parents’ home.
‘Falling For A Killer’ Ending
After leaving her parents’ house and returning to her own, Darcy discovers that Thomas has already arrived and wears a sinister smile. Without warning, he fires a bullet into her arm. As she reels in pain, Thomas proceeds to reveal his true motive for the string of murders. Initially, it appeared that he was killing for insurance money, but as he begins to explain his true intentions, it becomes clear that the money is secondary. Thomas confesses that he is seeking revenge for his father’s death and is targeting the families responsible for his imprisonment. As Darcy was involved in the case, he chose to punish her sister. Thomas believes that killing someone’s loved ones is more fulfilling than killing the person directly involved, as it causes them to feel the same sense of loss that they once experienced. After this shocking revelation, Thomas shoots Darcy in the chest and proceeds to Brea’s house to kill her. However, when he tries to kill Brea, Darcy suddenly appears, revealing that the bullet did not penetrate her chest due to the same memento she had picked up from her house.
Darcy and Brea team up to stop Thomas, who is relentlessly pursuing them for retribution. After a tense game of cat and mouse, Darcy’s parents arrive on the scene, with her father brandishing a shotgun and successfully forcing Thomas to surrender. With the arrival of the police, Thomas is taken into custody, still wearing a sinister grin as he’s escorted into the patrol car. The family reunites, finally able to enjoy each other’s company again, and it seems as though the movie is headed toward a happy ending. However, things take a surprising turn in the final scene as Darcy, now a district attorney, is visited by a man named Justin at her new office. Justin claims to have recently joined her father’s firm and presents her with a letter containing a chess move from their ongoing game. As they converse, Darcy begins to find Justin intimidating yet alluring, and he even asks her out on a date before departing with her chess move written on a slip of paper. Darcy blushes at the thought of him and wonders about her date with him. However, in a shocking revelation, as Justin descends the stairs, he opens an article about Thomas, revealing that he is, in fact, Thomas’s vengeful brother seeking revenge on Darcy. This twist leaves the audience on the edge of their seats and opens up the possibility for a sequel to continue the thrilling story.