Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer (DVD Review)

25 Jun, 2011 By: Ashley Ratcliff

Street 6/28/11
Anchor Bay
Horror
$26.98 DVD
Not rated.
Stars Danielle Harris, Lance Henriksen, Brian Krause, Doug Jones, Rae Dawn Chong, Tiffany Shepis, Patricia Belcher.

Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer presents a convincing and, thus, creepy glimpse into the psychological makeup of those deranged individuals who murder without a conscience, such as Cyrus Danser.

Cyrus (Bryan Krause) was verbally abused and neglected by his prostitute mother, and it’s through graphic flashbacks of Cyrus’ childhood that we learn why he’s in such a fragile state of mind. Adding to the trauma is his loose wife, whom he kills, along with her lover and the couple’s baby, when he catches them in the act.

Maria (Danielle Harris) is a tabloid TV show host eager to get the scoop on the County Line Cannibal, believed to be behind the mysterious vanishings of several college students. With her cameraman, Tom (Tony Yalda), she attempts to get more information from a man claiming to be Cyrus’ best friend, Emmett (Lance Henriksen).

As Emmett divulges the sordid details of Cyrus’ kills — focusing on his capture and torture of friends Vicky (Anne Leighton), Chloe (Shawna Waldron) and Tina (Aris Mendoza) — it becomes clear that Cyrus is one disturbed individual. He cages the girls and forces them to watch the others beg for their lives. He thrives off the fear in their eyes.

That the film is based on true events certainly ups the freak-out quotient. Like a storied German killer, Cyrus grinds his victims into patties that he serves as “Roadkill” burgers at his stand. It’s sickening to watch as the townies eat to their hearts’ content.

Cyrus is one of those films where you catch the intricacies the second time around. It’s evident writer-director Mark Vadik intended it that way, as the dialogue is full of innuendos and double entendres. When Maria says she swears on her life she won’t leak Emmett’s interview footage, we know the unfortunate fate that awaits her.

About the Author: Ashley Ratcliff