Managing harmony for multiple commentaries masterfully in one mind may overwhelm many but a criminal fixer missing his marbles is motivated to pay a menacing mastermind back immediately before his medication misconduct makes a monumental calamity on humankind.

Psychosis is a new independent Australian film about the criminal fixer Cliff Van Aarle (Derryn Amoroso). He explains how he suffers from Peracusia. It’s when the link between his internal senses and his external perception gets blurred. He hears his thoughts as if they were other people speaking to him. He mentions the Narrator as one of those voices. In between conversations, the narrator continues to narrate as other voices say random things relating to what’s happening. He breaks the fourth wall by referring to the Narrator but only Van Aarle can hear him. They have interactions too. He talks and the Narrator talks back. A humorous tone is established early on which kicks off the clever writing that ensues.

Van Aarle gets lured into a frightening, odd mystery forcing him to revisit the traumatic past he believed he’d left behind because two drug dealers describe a murder they were involved in, alleging they were attacked by zombies too, in connection to his family.

Written and directed by Pirie Martin, he fills the screen with imaginative, surreal imagery filmed in black and white with splashes of colour throughout by using Dutch angles, Shaky cams, long takes in medium shots with minimal editing, camera rotations, and tilts. Some scenes are even presented sideways or completely upside-down. Also, he displays impressive, wince-inducing special effects makeup for the gore. The sound design and sound editing are used to create a tension-inducing atmosphere as well.

The acting is fantastic. Everyone convincingly filled their roles. Derryn Amoroso plays Cliff Van Aarle. He’s an incredible actor carrying the film with his intense character-driven performance. His facial expressions and body language used for his reactions shows his emotions so well. Whether it be surprise, frustration, or exasperation I knew exactly what he was feeling. He can be serious or silly with his deadpan delivery too. Kate Holly Hall plays Hess, an ally Van Aarle tends to rely on. I like how they have a platonic relationship. All too often these films get nonsensical love stories thrown in to fill time. She is smart, sassy, and knows how to fight if need be. She’s great in the role and has good chemistry with Amoroso.

PJ Van Gyen is Lone Wolf, a masked vigilante with a score to settle and a wild card with his own agenda. He never shows his face but his dark, mysterious performance contributes to the bizarre nature of the film. He made me believe a superhero was in this world because his tragic background motivated his vengeance and loathing. James McCluskey-Garcia is Joubini, the main antagonist. He’s connected to Van Aarle and Lone Wolf somehow. His villainous performance presents a clear, direct threat to the protagonists and the world they inhabit. Lyndsay Dunn supplies the voice of The Narrator. His comedic timing, connotation, and cadence are hilariously well done. I laughed out loud countless times. Great casting choice. He easily steals the film.

Overall, I enjoyed this silly, cheesy, funny plot with a unique spin on a tired old premise. Part hard-boiled crime noir, part comedy, and part horror, Psychosis is a well-written evenly paced blend of horror, humour, and an intriguing mystery with an amazing cast and director with a strong visual art style sense. It reminds me of Vertigo, The Cell, In the Mouth of Madness, Jacob’s Ladder, or Mandy. I highly recommend this deeply disturbing thought-provoking horror/comedy but it’s not for everyone. And remember, if you’re one sandwich short of a picnic basket, does that mean it’s an open and shut case?