You Can't Stop the Murders (2003)

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Blistering performances.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

*You Can't Stop The SPOILERS* Gary (Gary Eck) is a cop in a veery little town in the middle of Australia, where the fact that Premium Mincemeat is actually just normal mincemeat is a serious deal, and has very little to do except patrol without need the town streets with his kind-of-dumb partner Akmal (Akmal Saler) who constantly gets inane idea for movies, and suffer his very religious boss (Richard Carter).But when a mysterious killer begins operating in the little town, first murdering a biker and then a construction worker, Gary finally faces a true challenge, other than the annual line dancing competition which he absolutely wants to win.But the boss decides to bring in a cop from the city to investigate, and to our hero's misfortune, Agent Tony (Anthony Mir) is probably the stupidest and most obnoxious man on Earth, but he's a charmer. So much, in fact, that everybody, including Akmal and town reporter Julie (Kristie Hutton), the girl Gary's in love with, fall under his spell. Until he shows his true colors, that is.But as the bodies begin to pile up, including a French sailor/stripper and a comedic Cowboy/Indian duo, Gary understands that the killer is murdering people that are dressed like one of the members of the '70s disco band Village People, and that he's still got one more person to kill: a cop...He will manage to get out on top, though.'You Can't Stop The Murders' is a nice, funny and sometimes scary movie from Australia, which has been well-written, directed and acted, with the director (Anthony Mir) playing also a part (the Mega-Jerk).It may not be Shakespeare, but it makes for a nice 99 minutes.You Can't Stop The Murders: 7/10.

Written by and starring short Tropfest film winner, bald local Sydney comedian Gary Eck, this is a supposed comedy showcase for Mr Himself, for himself and about himself. With the same derivative form of 'satirical' comedy (ie: lifted from other original ideas) just like the notoriously inept 90s comic horror SILENCE OF THE HAMS, or Exorcist farce REPOSSESSED, or Top Gun crap HOT SHOTS. This illconcieved film has a bumpkin hometown Village People serial killer whodunnit theme sliding sideways into some navel gazing about the main character, local cop as played by Mr Eck. Sadly there is not much in the form of originality and like the source of satire, probably 29 years out of date. Released in some local multiplexes for a week or so by Mirimax Australia I am quite sure someone almost lost their job because of this distribution pickup boo-boo. More was spent on the posters and ads than was spent on tickets if you get my drift. I am sure Gary Eck is a funny man at the stand-up club but I am not sure that recycling previously humorous characters or situations and claiming them as new and funnier in his films is the right thing to do. Like his Tropfest win hilariously recognized in all parts of the Oz film distribution network as having been sourced from a better idea, the 1978 musical travesty CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC is a funnier Village People storyline...if that is any indication for the murderous hilarity of this flop. I am sure he is well regarded as a comedian and it would be a happy experience for all concerned if he was attracted to original material only. I guess that is called creativity.

Contains Spoiler!! Writing this as a simple minded Australian looking for a cheap laugh, yet who feels her intelligence is slightly insulted by an inundation of Hollywood schmuck -You Can't Stop The Murders was ultimately disappointing for me, due to a number of factors: 1) It is an Australian film... and it suffers for it, like most Australian films that go commercial, it is simply too busy being Australian to notice that it's not really that great nor is it entertaining. I'm puzzled as to why there were no lingering shots of Eucalypts at dusk or drunkards affectionately known at Rummy at the local. If the film goes international, viewers may be puzzled by certain references (e.g crazy Frenchman wielding a knife shot at beach) 2) It is a film about a Village People serial killer. I saw it for that premise alone, and boy was I disappointed. A Village People serial killer - for f**k's sake, capitalise!!! During the 99 minutes of a film called You Can't Stop The Murders I certainly expect many jokes at the expense of the Village People (bless them). But the plot is too caught up with the main character's struggle to become a "real cop" (apparently you're not a real cop until you've shot somebody), and simply coping with the people around him. No time for any Village People shennanigans, though *SPOILER* having the corpses spell out Y.M.C.A was a nice touch. Now the above probably sounds quite harsh, and by no means is this a bad film - it's just not a great one. It is certainly very well made and deals nicely with the intricacies of small-town life. I just expected something more relevant and more lowbrow, and it would have been great if it did lower itself just a tad - there were some gorgeously tacky moments, such as the line dancing and the Chief going incognito as Jesus. I hate to be so cruel to an Australian film but I feel so disappointed. The sheer idea of a Village People serial killer: 10/10. Entertainment factor: 4/10. Overall: 7/10

When I first saw the trailer I though to myself 'hey...nice idea'. However i was sadly disappointed with the overall product. Gary Eck, one of the writers and main character, wrote a winning 'Tropfest' entry in 2002 ('Tragic Love'), and in comparison to this short, 'You Can't Stop The Murders' just becomes a parody of itself. 'Tragic Love' was amusing and enjoyable because although the overall idea was absurd, it was played out in complete seriousness. If the same could be said for Y.C.S.T.M then I'm sure it would have made it a much more enjoyable film. However, with that all said and done. I'm sorry to use Gary as an example, and I'll continue the review.The film overall is quite well make for Australian standards, especially on what I would assume was a small budget. The acting is an interesting mix characters and performers bound together through this interesting variation of the murder genre.The 99 minute running time perfect for the story to progress. And the cinematography was an altogether different and refreshing view at yet another bland Australian landscape.