Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea: Beware the killer landlady

Hemet, or the Landylady Don't Drink Tea is unlike any murder mystery I've ever screened, if it can even be considered a murder mystery. Directed by Tony Olmos, the feature certainly has plenty of horror elements and a foul-mouthed elderly lady who sure doesn't mind hacking up a few bodies. It's also really, really fun, thanks to the lead performance by writer/actor Brian Patrick Butler, who dresses up in drag and goes on a murdering spree.

Butler plays the landlady Liz, who rules the apartment complex with an iron fist. Yes, she wants to maintain control, and she thwarts, or murders tenants who threaten her power. Her biggest obstacle is Rosie, played Kimberly Weinberger. Like Liz, Rosie is one of this indie movie's other strengths. She's an every person type of character, struggling to deal with day-to-day hardships. This includes an abusive musician boyfriend who, once home from tour, knocks her on the head until she bleeds. Beyond that, she also has to deal with Liz, who forces Rosie and other occupants to constantly move their parking spaces, or even strips them of their spaces.

Other characters, to a lesser extent, factor into the narrative, including Liz's daughter, Kate (Aimee La Joie), who, along with her kids, move into the complex and take Rosie's parking space. Yet, many of these other characters fade into the background or feel like mere fodder for the crazed landlady's blood lust. To be clear, it's really Butler here who steals the show, especially some of the one-liners he delivers. He's laugh out loud funny in the role. Yet, this also comes at the expense of developing other characters. Other than Rosie, I can't say I cared about very many of them. Still, she does make a great final girl. There's also a zombie-like narrative and epidemic that plays out, but that too feels like background noise. Those infected never feel like much of a threat and just nip around the edges.

As for the gore, there are slasher elements in here and some grisly scenes in the last act. However, this film is somewhat hamstrung by its budget, but again, it's an indie movie. Considering that, some of the last few kills are especially good, especially once Liz picks up the old chainsaw.

At its core, Hemet, or the Landylady Don't Drink Tea is a weird little movie that many find its audience as it continues to play the film fest circuit. For those who like something truly strange and unusual, this film is for you. It has heart, grit, laughs, and bloodshed.

The film will next play at the Oceanside International Film Festival on Saturday, February 24th.