A very fun new thriller movie is available to watch at home now

Thanks to its great cast and surprisingly funny script, the film feels like a cult favourite in the making.

The film boasts a long but fitting title: Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write about a Serial Killer.

That writer is named Keane (and is played by John Magaro of Past Lives fame), and he begins the story stuck in a rut. A couple of years on from his first novel becoming a modest hit, he has produced nothing due to writer's block.

Even worse, he has an idea for a new book - a love story set in 40,000 BC between a homosapien woman and the last living neanderthal - but no one is taking it seriously, including his publisher, his friends and his long-suffering wife, Suzie (Britt Lower, Severance). In fact, utterly fed up with Keane's solipsistic and over-reliant nature, Suzie wants a divorce.

Heading to a bar to drown his sorrows, the author is approached by Kollmick (Buscemi), a fan of his with an intriguing proposal. Kollmick tells Keane he is a "retired serial killer" and offers to serve as inspiration for the writer's next novel.

"When a misunderstanding leads Suzie to think the stranger is a marriage counsellor hired by her husband, Keane sees an opportunity," the plot synopsis adds.

"He agrees to write a book about the killer… just as long as he plays along as their new counsellor."

Written and directed by Turkish filmmaker Tolga Karaçelik in his English-language debut, Psycho Therapy is as quirky as its title suggests. As the movie continues, it becomes clear that Kollmick's unexpected arrival in Keane and Suzie's lives and the subsequent chaos that ensues might just provide the spark of excitement the married couple needs to rekindle their love.

That said, Psycho Therapy stands above many similar crime farces thanks to its satirical elements and its interesting performances.

The movie cleverly parodies sensationalism in literature and the writers who indulge in the practice.

While there is no question that Keane's novel about Kollmick would probably be more successful than his 40,000 BC-set love story, Keane hardly ever questions the ethics of platforming a serial killer. In fact, when Kollmick pitches his proposal to Keane, he tells the author, "Any writer would jump at the chance."

As for the three lead actors, they each do great work, grounding a story that becomes more eccentric as it goes, introducing a llama and Albanian gangsters into the mix. John Magaro strikes the right blend of self-seriousness and nebbishness for his writer character.

Buscemi is surprisingly understated as his serial killer, playing the character like an ordinary person, aside from brief moments where he reveals his inner darkness. Perhaps masking this intensity so effectively is how Kollmick was able to go undetected for so long.

The real standout, though, is Lower, whose depiction of marital ennui is very believable and gives the film a depth it might lack otherwise. Plus, when the movie enters its more farcical third act full of hijinks and miscommunication, she is also a deadpan delight.

It's worth noting, too, that Psycho Therapy marks a mini Severance reunion. This is as Suzie's best friend in the film is played by Lower's Severance co-star Sydney Cole Alexander.

All in all, Psycho Therapy is worth seeking out for comedy and thriller fans alike. We believe it has what it takes to someday be considered a cult favourite.

Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write about a Serial Killer is available for digital download in Ireland and the UK now.

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