User Reviews

My first review. I saw this movie because I follow James Merendino on Facebook. I saw a trailer there and thought, meh. I don't always like his stuff. LIke his last movie was yikes. But, I watched the whole show last night in one go. It is fire. It's really dark and funny and very much worth the watch. Even the low budget feel works. It's a mockumentary like the Office, which I hate. But The acting is so real and also so hysterical. The guy who plays Tom the hit man is really amazing. I never saw him before, but he is top tier acting wise. And James is in it as the director. He's pretty damn funny and more or less how he is on his live streams. Like I said. Everyone is good accept a couple of the tiny roles, but they are gone quick and it didn't bother me. I'm bad at this. But I recommend it. I hate most things. I Love this one. (Either the numbers are off or there is an episode missing)

What happens in Staten Island stays in Staten Island!

I love the dark humor throughout this series. It is a great binge. Funny and very suspenseful.

Amazing performances directed by none other than iconic SLC Punk! Director James Merendino, who also plays a key role in the series. Steve Stanulis reminds me of Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

Love all the female actors who play the co-director, the mob-boss the girlfriend and the grandma. Such interesting multi-dimensional female characters. Women of Staten Island are hardcore.

I can't wait to see where the characters are next season. What a great Tubi surprise!

This show is hilarious by itself, but what's interesting and impressive about this series is how much of the humor is never even said but implied. First, the best joke of all is that a hitman would ever even agree to be in a documentary in the first place. There's a good blend of dry British style humor, absurdism, satire and full on next-level meta comedy.

What appear to be "problems" with production value are largely intentional, so don't get turned off until you see how its part of the joke. For instance the sound guy screwing up the shots (he's in almost every frame of the documentary in the first episode). It's almost like a blend of reality TV and the old exploitation films, where campiness is an integral part of the mix. However, to me it leaned a bit too much towards the latter in a few places, there are a few reactions to major events that were underacted in my opinion, and I think the kills could have been a bit more convincing. I'm fairly sure these were also part of the style and artistic direction, but I was personally hoping for something a little more dark.

Definitely one of the best shows available on the non-mainstream streaming platforms, the premise itself was brilliant and I was excited for over a year to finally see it, I'm glad to see it was pulled off very well. Check this one out for sure!

I cracked up so many times watching this documentary. The Blair Witch Project, only on Staten Island - a camera crew following the true life adventures of a hit man and his associates into the most secret places of their trade. The concept is surreal and the dialogue and acting are supremely natural. The camera work is some of the greatest visual comedy/improv I've ever seen. Embedded throughout are so many moments that connect with me. As someone who follows true crime, and who grew up in an Italian family, I can attest to the authenticity of the vibe that these characters are all exuding. Also the music during the intro and end credits is FANTASTIC. The whole experience of watching GREAT KILLS makes me feel like I've just spent a week hanging out with these wonderful, passionate, fearless, funny, scary people. VERY highly recommended to all who love humor, gangsters, good Italian food and truly edgy film making.

I love this show. Steve Stanulis is a dynamic actor who embraces the character, Thomas Lynch. James Merendino and Lisa Hammer deliver a great piece of work. The script is superb accompanied by amazing actors. The idea of a documentarian following a hit man is comical, but the story works. The kills are dirty and raw. The blood looks authentic. I'm binging the show over the weekend. Looking forward to more seasons. I'm a big fan of James Merendino's work, but this is one of my favorites next to SLC Punk, Punk's Dead, and The Invisible Life of Thomas Lynch. I'm hoping for physical release of this show combined with The Invisible Life of Thomas Lynch. This is definitely worth a watch. The episodes are only 30 minutes so it's easy to binge. Do yourself a favor and give this one a go.

I am loving every moment of this series so far. My wife and I decided to watch Great Kills last night, at first thinking that it was a movie. Once we had seen that Great Kills is a series, we said "oh well, we will at least watch the pilot episode tonight, and if it is any good we will watch the whole thing." Loving the everyday life of a hitman. I literally busted out loud laughing in the middle of the night during the pilot episode. I love the mockumentary setup, what the camera crew managed to get themselves into (Poor Pat) and seeing James in the show is an awesome touch, because I love it when the directors are right there in the action.

I have to admit, I'm partial to dark humor and crime stories. Which is why The Wire and Six Feet Under are my absolute favorite series.

James Merendino manages to combine both in Great Kills, presenting it as an irresistibly funny mockumentary.

The team follows Thomas Lynch, a hitman on Staten Island, in the hopes of getting a few awards out of it. They are devoid of any kind of moral compass, as they go from mildly bothered to slightly concerned by the bloody collateral damages of Lynch's profession. I found myself laughing at scenes of carnage, then feeling bad about it, only to laugh even harder. The comic timing always hits the spot, not only thanks to the writing and editing, but also (and not least) the acting.

The whole team genuinely feels as an authentic documentary team trying unsuccessfully to avoid bloopers, and dismissing them with offhand commentaries that feel disturbingly spontaneous. I laughed out loud several times on public transport, only to have my neighbor look over my shoulder, then wondering why I would find murder funny. I end up sitting alone. Win-win.

The twists make things go from bad to exquisitely worse, spinning the awkward and disturbing scenes into a riveting story.

This is how this series has managed to join my list of all-time favorites.

Can't wait for season two.

James and his sister Lisa Merendino have created a masterpiece with this masterstroke in mockumentary style. This was previously a film with practically the same cast, still having the Terror Twins at the helm of the ship; the story and cast/crew are back to make this into a television style of series and created an excellent chance for character arcs and development. This leads to chaos and mayhem that are gut-busting and exhilarating you get from flying by the seat of your pants in the beautiful world of a professional hitman. From the crew trying to remain objective to the main focus of the assassin calling himself an insurance adjustor, this becomes a tangled web woven beyond control and redemption. What the viewer is left with is a delightful compulsion to watch more and see what incompetencies and hijinks happen next. I have shared this show with many people now, one being my Mom, who gave this the highest review from her, "it's cute!"

I loved it from the first scene, which is hysterical. Shot like a reality doc but it is a combo of scripted and improve with very good actors. This was an amazing random find and I felt like I discovered a real gem. Looking for more material from this director and am looking forward to seasons two.

Love the lead actor and the natural style of the production. I'm not typically drawn to Staten Island type New York mob drama because it seems like Sopranos lore is so overwhelming, but this finds its own voice and carves out a nice rhythm. Again, can't say enough good about it and I hope there are many seasons and even some spin-offs.

Super thriller. Has so many nostalgic moments that reminds me of Blair Witch (but even better). Seriously funny moments also, I was randomly on Tubi and found it and I'm super addicted to this series now. Quality cast members also like Lisa Hammer, Levi Wilson, John Bianco just to name a few. How good was Steve Stanulis also? He played the role of Thomas Lynch perfectly and it was just worth watching this film just based of his performance alone. The plot really grows on you also as each episodes really grows on you. I think this will eventually get a cult following. It's one of those series that keeps getting better. Hard to find tv series like this these days.

It's a great show. Steve Stanulis is remarkable as are the rest of the cast. Honest performances and on point. Shot well. Story is solid. And it's got lots of laughs.

It's an eight part series with lots of laughs. It's got a pretty cynical view on the media and life in general, which I like.

And I would recommend this to anyone that just wants a quick and fun experience.

I'm not gonna say it's a masterpiece. But it's a masterpiece. These guys nailed it. Seriously. I never write reviews. Congrats to all involved. I hope there's more to come from this group. I really had a good time. I gave it a 10.

James Merendino's new series, Great Kills, takes mockumentary to a new level. A darkly comic take on our obsession with reality t.v., fame, violence, and intrigue, it's the perfect mix of films like Knives Out and Spinal Tap. With some amazing comic performances and twists and turns galore, it'll keep you laughing and shocked throughout this brilliant first season. Most importantly, it points out the incredibly difficult and precarious attempt to achieve great sound on set. It's a must watch. I loved it! When's the next season drop? Did James ever finish that bottle of Captain Morgan? Does Lisa ever pick up a gun?

A friend told me this was on Tubi. I laughed out loud. Usually these low budget things on these streaming services are awful. Particularly when there are no names involved at all. But this worked. I guess because it's like Spinal Tap in stile and all the actors are really good. The basic idea of a documentary crew following a hit man is already ridiculous. I was nervous that it was gonna try to be series like Paranormal activity. But it's funny and sloppy and crazy and somehow it works. Flawed from a production point of view. But the performances are definitely more realistic than any reality TV show and it makes a strong statement about clout chasing. I gave it an 8 for the honest effort and the fact that they pulled it off. If it was the same exact thing but was made by HBO with big stars and lots of money it would rate around a seven. So still pretty good even if they had the backing.

I watched this show on Tubi. And it's missing episode 3. So I'll circle back for that. But hey, it's free.

This show rocks. It's funny as hell and totally DIY. There are so many glossy shows out that are all the same and have really bad writing. This is pretty original. It's a lot like Man Bites Dog, but in a good way and with a definite Merendino twist. Who is hit or miss, in my opinion. He made SLC Punk which one of my favorite movies. And then he made a sequel, which is not so great, but definitely gets a lot of hate that it shouldn't.

Anyway, this show is James on crack. The jokes are sharp, the plot is dark and nihilistic and there are no real happy endings. Acting is very realistic. The lead dude brings it hard. He's like Tony Soprano good. Or Joe Pesci.

I'm gonna binge it again this weekend.

This was like the black witch project but the state island version. Good realistic documentary type of plot with some impressive camera work that made me feel like i was there. Lots of violence and yes it gets dark but believe me it has it's very funny moments. Actors all are talented and the realism in this one is award winning. I hope this film gets more attention it rightfully deserves. Really refreshing to see filmmakers push the boundaries here and it really paid off. The way they ended this could also be a setup of part two or even a tv series. Lots of opportunities to grow off this film. Brilliant work.

This was so good. Not the usual boring predictable plot that's been done over and over again. Great Kills is unique in it's own right. Refreshing to see actors and directors really challenging themselves and attempting to take things to the next level. It for sure paid of. Right from the start I got heavily invested into the main character and by the 3rd episode you just can't stop watching it. So glad I found it on Tubi. If your looking for a good series to watch that has hilarious dark humor mixed with some suspense - then this is a win. I've followed Steve Stanulis for many years now and the quality of films he's been in has been of quality lately. Impressive work, keep it up.

A friend told me to watch this show, Great Kills. Gotta say, The title and the poster, I was sure I was being pranked. But it made sense after watching the pilot. This show is a super funny mockumentary like the Office only real dark.

It definitely had a little budget and has technical problems. But, that's kind of the point. The acting is so real. The star is the best. Dead pan, hard core, real. Scary as hell and completely believable. And even though this guy is a killer, somehow, the people making the documentary are much worse. They watch him kill people and will literally ask him if he can do it again because their shots were off. They all get into these fights and it's nuts. You keep thinking the hit man is just gonna off them.

I have watched these obscure off the beaten track shows before, out of curiosity. Usually the acting is sketchy at best. But they managed to find really good people who I never heard of.

The girlfriend is really funny. The Grandma is top notch. The detective friend is solid. Also, the client that hires the hit man is a perfect idiot. I laughed out loud.

There's a pretty simple story line. Not too complicated. I guess if it was a more expensive HBO show they would have done more with that. But it still works because even when it gets heavy, it stays funny. No word on a second season but it left things open for one.

Loved the way this tv series was done. In a dark comedy documentary style. Solid cast with famous faces and a gritty plot with plenty of twists that had me guessing what might happen next - right to the very end. Steve Stanulis has done it again! I watched the first episode and ended up binge watching the rest till i finished the whole season. The jokes were hilarious and the acting had lots of passion and seemed so real. I was glued to the screen, this is one of those shows on Tubi you must watch. Perfect for a weekend binge watch with friends and family. I'm hoping for new shows like this by the director. Well done to everyone involved.

I was scrolling through Tubi titles when I found Great Kills. I expected the worst. I was totally caught off guard. It was actually hilarious. It's a mockumentary about a hit man in New York. The people film him on his hits and are not bothered by any of it. There is a good story arch over the eight episodes that actually had me guesting. I guessed right but, it still made me laugh out loud.

I needed a good binge. This was perfect.

The star of the show, the hit man, is really good. I haven't seen him before I don't think but he is like on the level of anyone from Sopranos. He should be staring in Martin Scorsese movies. After sitting through the Irishman, this guy is better than most of that cast.

I looked for any info on this series and can't find anything about it accept here. But no interviews or behind the scenes or dates for another season. But I will be looking out for it.

Please, when is season 2 coming? I randomly found this on Tubi and to my surprise it was addictive. I've binge watched this 2 times in the past week and I wanted more. It's not over the top, done with the perfect amount of dark humor and crime/horror which really made it a solid series. Also from someone who has never been to New York and the fact that Great Kills is actually a neighborhood made it that more trippy. Genius filmmaking, other indie filmmakers need to take note - this is how you make a solid series. Good character development and the last episode really is a cliffhanger. Excellent.

This was such a fun watch. Everything you would expect from a comedy style thriller. Lots of talented actors and plenty of surprisingly unexpected plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat to the very end. I think the way they shot this series was impressive. It had it's own style that made it seem that much more realistic. I always support films that dare to push boundaries and this is one of them. I've seen a whole bunch of films from Steve Stanulis but this one is his best to date for sure. Hopefully we can get more then 8 episodes in the new season. Plot wasn't all over the place, as the film went on you learn more about the characters and by the end of each episode you really get invested in everyone. I love it!

Btw...LOVED Great Kills James! Really brilliant. Deserves many awards! Unusual directing, storyline and I couldn't get over the Oscar worthy acting. You all were ridiculous amazing! Your lead Steve Stanulis is intense. Been telling everyone about your series and excited about season 2?! Love all your work and congratulations!

Very difficult to strike balance of "documentary" crime horror and dark comedy while keeping audiences riveted - your multitasking skills detailed brilliance. Gotta be the most difficult format to master! Could watch scenes many times to catch the nuance nuggets! Haven't loved a picture like this since Fargo.

I binged Great Kills this weekend. It was recommended to me on Facebook. I saw that there are some really good reviews, but I don't see the kind of spoilers like I see for something like Succession.

I understand that there aren't the same recognizable faces in this. But to my eyes the two shows look similar. And I really only recognize Brian Cox from Succession.

In Great Kills I don't recognize anyone. But what does that matter? It's meant to be a documentary about something so crazy that it should have been ridiculous. Or just bad. And it is really funny. A documentary about a killer who is killing people and the documentary people film him like he's a mechanic or some other normal blue collar guy. In real life these people would be dead.

It should be terrible. I'm not one for dark humor. And it is suggested as dark humor. But, I found it funny, relatable and it's now my favorite show on TV next to Succession. I love this man who plays the killer and all the people in his life.

The killing scenes are sometimes hard for me to watch, but then the killer is with his girlfriend or fighting with the documentary people or he's worried about his sister or grandma or his pets and I just love it all.

It also gets very sad (Be warned).

I would date this man. That is how well this TV show does to suck you in. And, like Succession, there are no big effects or tricky photography. They just tel it straight.

So my only question is... why are there no spoilers or recaps on YouTube? Where are the awards? Is it really only because it doesn't have a movie star like Brian Cox? Seriously? He's not even that big of a star.

If this TV show is not nominated of an Emmy or Golden Globe I will be annoyed. It's just as good as the best.

I have been rewatching mockumentaries when this one popped up for me to watch. I am in Europe, and with my VPN, I gained access to a US streaming service that allows me to see old movies. This show is new.

Lucky me. Here we have a film crew following this guy who is a hitman. So... "Man Bites Dog," right? No. It's different in so many ways. It's more like Woody Allen and Diane Keaton following Robert De Niro. Honestly.

The show has its limitations. It clearly had no money. However, it works in its favor if you are patient.

But I have to say, this actor Steve Stanulis, whom I also googled and still don't know of, is a stunningly good actor. This show is off the grid, so where did this guy who plays the hitman come from? His performance holds together eight episodes with ease. There is very little story here, and I applaud the filmmakers for making something out of nothing. But my high score is based on this actor who is on par with any of the great American actors of the '70s. I am not joking. Just watch the show with eyes that understand the limitations. The supporting cast is very good, but there's this actor who is clearly not as famous as say, Stellan Skarsgård, yet there he is, just as good, carrying five hours on his shoulders.

This show might be a bit messy for your average viewer who is used to watching slick productions. However, it is a milestone for the genre, much like "Man Bites Dog" was a milestone.