The Greasy Strangler (2016)-Absolute Horror/Comedy Gold With A Soundtrack to Match!-Fitz of Horror Review

Written by Bryan Fitzgerald (Fitz of Horror) July 16, 2018

Synopsis-Ronnie runs a Disco walking tour with his son, Brayden. When a sexy woman takes the tour, it begins a competition between father and son for her love. It also signals the arrival of an oily strangler who stalks the streets at night. 

I’ll start first by admitting that I had this movie just sitting on my shelf for over a year before finally watching it because of strong recommendations from a few trusted sources. At the time of this review I have now seen it twice, recommended it to countless friends and have the urge to watch it again. Needless to say, I loved this movie!

The Greasy Strangler has the strange “poppy” and weird vibe of a Wes Anderson film, a healthy dose of over the top raunchiness like we used to see in  early John Waters movies and the amazing soundtrack from Andrew Hung giving it a decidedly Napoleon Dynamite quirky vibe.

From the start this movie just feels different but in a good way. We are introduced to Big Brayden (Played perfectly by Sky Elobar) who is wearing nothing but his briefs, serving his father Big Ronnie (Michael St. Michaels) coffee in bed. The conversation is completely insane and sets the bar for what to expect dialogue wise for the rest of the absolutely hilarious movie. Along with a mellow throwback vibe, the ride you’re about to take will have you coming back for more……Just don’t ask about free drinks.

As the owners of L.A.’s only Disco Walking tour where they take small groups of strange characters to random places dressed in Pink short shorts, Pink turtle neck sweaters and knee high socks while delivering less than awe inspiring related facts about disco icons at dilapidated back ally  locations.

When lovely Janet (Elizabeth De Razzo) takes the tour one day, Brayden falls in love, but this doesn’t sit well with Ronnie and soon an uncomfortable and twisted love triangle develops. The jealousy of Big Ronnie seems to culminate in his covering himself in grease and becoming the infamous “Greasy Strangler”, an alter ego he is proud of and seemingly wants people to know is in fact him.

After each Greasy Strangler outburst, Big Ronnie takes to the car wash to wash and dry his greasy covered body, just another weird touch to this film that just works. I don’t even think the Greasy Strangler alter ego is the strangest aspect of Big Ronnie either. With all of his outwardly feminine qualities, Big Ronnie is all man and he’s not afraid to show it (literally). He is clearly an egomaniac with control issues but he also seems to want to be accepted, he just has very strange ways of showing it.

Big Brayden is like a giant man child that has been mentally broken down by his father over the years but his father is all he has. After he meets Janet and discovers that his father may be the Greasy Strangler, his world is turned upside down.

Pretty heavy stuff huh? In any other film by any other director these issues wouldn’t be funny but in the demented hands of Jim Hosking, these psychotic family members and their outlandish issues become that of comic gold.

There is just too much irreverent, goofy and borderline genius moments in this film to go into too much detail about but the “Potato”, “Free drinks”, “Hooty tooty disco cutie”, the Inspector scene and the repeated use of my new favorite term “Bullshit Artist” to name a few are worth the price of admission and make this movie highly re watchable…….I literally just LOL’d even thinking about these moments in the movie!

As you know, I watch a lot of movies so it’s not often that I am blown away by how much I liked something but The Greasy Strangler was that kind of movie. It makes me want to actually go through my collection and watch the films I’ve been neglecting for months at a time.

I don’t know if I’m just that messed up in the head that I enjoy this crazy movie as much as I do or if it is in fact really that good. Either way, I can’t recommend this movie enough. It has a little of everything and a lot of things you’ve never seen and takes you into this crazy world of Brayden and Ronnie that you won’t want to leave.

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