Louise Linton writes, directs, and leads Me You Madness as the ultimate femme fatale, Catherine Black. Black is a high-powered female boss with a lavish lifestyle and an inflated sense of self-worth; she’s also a serial killer. Her latest mark, Tyler (Ed Westwick), is a con man who makes his living by stealing from the rich. The two collide after Catherine plants a fake housing ad online. As the two circle one another, each one believes themselves to be the predator, but as they begin to talk, sparks fly and their original intentions become conflicted.
Opening with an American Psycho style voiceover narrative, Linton introduces her dark-hearted villainess well. Much like Patrick Bateman we find out everything we need to know about Black in a few short moments. She discusses her daily routine, skin care, diet, leaving nothing to the imagination. Unlike Bateman however, Catherine likes to break the fourth wall and address the viewer directly. Here Linton acknowledges the nods to American Psycho though spins it as an “elevated story concept, aka the same, but different”. In these short moments Linton effortlessly sets up the tone and direction of what is to come, offering the audience an appealing viewing prospect.
The first half of Me You Madness is a lot of fun. It plays as a welcome pastiche to the serial killer thrillers of yesterday, but keeps its tongue firmly in its enhanced cheek. Linton creates a buzz and an energy in these moments that works effectively to bring the viewer on side with a character whose behaviour, in her own words, is deplorable. You never overtly like Catherine, but there is something very entertaining about the character and how she views herself and the world around her. Disappointingly, Linton doesn’t manage to maintain this spirit throughout, and the film drives itself off of a cliff in the second half. Everything up until the morning after is unadulterated good times, everything afterwards becomes a parody of itself, bogging the film down with repetition and cheap gags that get done to death. An example would be that Catherine is forever changing her outfit, showcasing her wealth and vanity. At first this works, but by the climactic showdown Linton has a new costume in almost every shot, with characters on screen remarking on the change every single time. It’s a joke that lands the first couple of times, but becomes infuriating by the end.
If there is one thing that keeps Me You Madness pushing forward, it is the soundtrack. Packed to bursting with classic eighties songs, the music forms the beating heart of the piece. Even if you can’t get onboard with what is happening on screen, you’ll at least have a little disco in your home. No classic is left unplayed with songs by Roxette, Duran Duran, New Order, Tiffany, The Cure, and A-Ha being just a taste of what is featured. In fact, hardly any scene plays without a nostalgic throwback playing in the background; it’s a tad overkill, but sure makes for a lively atmosphere.
Unfortunately, a killer soundtrack and the fun beginning doesn’t make for a fully enjoyable watch on their own. Somewhere buried amongst all the over-stylised clothing, tired jokes, and camera asides, is the formation of an interesting dark comedy.
Me You Madness available on Digital Download platforms in the UK and Ireland on 19th April.
Me You Madness
Summary
A film whose first half is fun and frenetic, gets bogged down by an undercooked and overworked second half. Me You Madness has some of the right ingredients, just not in the right ratios.
