Watch Murder Party

Murder Party is an indie horror-comedy movie from 2007. Directed by Jeremy Saulnier, the film follows a lonely and socially awkward man named Christopher, who finds an invitation to a mysterious "Murder Party" on Halloween night. With nothing else to do, he decides to attend the party, only to find out that it is actually a trap laid out by a group of artists who plan to murder him and turn his corpse into a piece of art. As the night progresses, Christopher finds himself fighting for his life against the increasingly deranged artists.

The film begins with a close-up shot of Christopher, played by Chris Sharp, going about his nerdy routine of caring for his cat and watching old movies. He is a mild-mannered and unassuming character, with no friends or social life to speak of. However, when he comes across an invitation to a Halloween party in a local park, his curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to attend. The invitation is adorned with the ominous tagline, "Come alone. Wear a costume. All attendees will be murdered at midnight."

At the park, Christopher finds himself the only attendee in a makeshift, creepy warehouse run by a group of artists who are putting on the party. The artists, who are all dressed in costumes, initially dismiss him and go about their preparations for the murder that they intend to carry out. However, Christopher's fate takes a turn when he accidentally ingests a drug-laced snack meant for another guest who was expected to attend, and the party-goers suddenly start to see him as a victim rather than an uninvited annoyance.

The artists, led by the charismatic but unhinged Alexander, played by Alex Barnett, begin to plan out how they will murder Christopher. The group is comprised of Brooklyn art scene stereotypes, including the narcissistic photographer Macon (Macon Blair) and the performance artist Sky (Heather Robb) to name a few. The artists then proceed to indulge in a variety of drugs, drinks and sadistic games while plotting their gruesome art piece. Meanwhile, Christopher, realizing his life is in danger, tries desperately to escape from the clutches of the artists and survive until the morning.

Murder Party is not your typical horror movie. The film is more a comedy than a horror film, and has a very dry, ironic sense of humor. The characters are all wildly exaggerated and almost caricatured, with the artists embodying the narcissistic and self-absorbed stereotypes of the art world so perfectly that it's hard not to laugh at their absurdity. The interactions between them are hilarious, and the witty writing elevates the whole affair into something that feels like a satire on art, horror and social awkwardness.

However, Murder Party doesn't neglect its horror elements entirely. There are plenty of gory moments, and the film takes a delightfully twisted turn towards the end that is as unexpected as it is gruesome. The movie has a DIY aesthetic, with low-budget special effects that make the violence feel realistic, but also serve to underscore the surreal atmosphere and the underlying absurdity of the entire situation.

The acting is mostly solid, with Chris Sharp making for an unlikely yet endearing protagonist. The supporting cast of artists all have their own quirks and foibles, and all deliver capable performances, especially the charismatic Alex Barnett, who manages to make his character both charming and menacing. In addition, the movie has some fantastic cinematography, with the dark, moody lighting and clever camera angles adding to the sense of unease.

In conclusion, Murder Party is a real gem of a movie. It's a horror-comedy that's simultaneously hilarious and unsettling, and it manages to pull both genres off with great aplomb. The film is a love letter to the horror genre and to the art world, and it's just as fun to watch alone in the dark as it is to watch with friends. So, put on your costume and take a shot every time someone mentions art, because this is one murder party you won't want to miss.

Note: Some viewers may find certain scenes in the movie to be graphic and disturbing, so viewer discretion is advised.

Murder Party is a 2007 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.