A milquetoast advert seller for an online periodical finds himself embroiled in a serial killer’s sinister game when he stumbles across his latest bloody murder. Terrified into silence and complicity, genial Joe (Josh Fadem) is thrust into a surprisingly far-reaching conspiracy, growing increasingly compromised as William Shaffer (James Urbaniak) continues to target women in moody and dangerous Hightown City.

So far so Zodiac, but this crime thriller takes a vastly different approach to the road taken by Fincher, Mann et al. When not wallowing in its neo-noir trappings, Every Heavy Thing deftly blends black comedy with vivid 80s and early 90s-era surrealism, employing the grit and texture of a De Palma, Lynch or Cronenberg along with its more modern influences. Those hoping for a more conventional sort of serial killer thriller may come away disappointed, but those who enjoyed (my) recent FrightFest favourite Dead Mail should appreciate its similarly unconventional approach to the genre.

One never knows quite what to expect from a Mickey Reece joint, and the writer-director’s latest feature is no different. Every Heavy Thing is part serial killer thriller, yes, but it’s also a slacker comedy and absurdist hangout movie. Thrown into this dark and unpredictable odyssey, Fadem makes for a charmingly befuddled protagonist, while the colourful supporting cast (which includes a welcome cameo from genre icon Barbara Crampton!) bring vibrancy and warmth to Reece’s deliberately disordered world. Yes, it’s yet another crime thriller about a serial killer targeting women, but Every Heavy Thing is rich in strong, well-written female characters – including Tipper Newton as Josh’s wife, Lux, and Kaylene Snarsky as the plucky Cheyenne. Heavy topics are tackled – including transphobia and corruption in the police and media – but the film is light on its feet, moving from one dizzying sequence to the next with a confidently brisk step.

Not to all tastes, perhaps, but a delectable surprise for fans of the quirky and the offbeat.

EVERY HEAVY THING premiered at UK FrightFest Halloween on October 31, 2025