“Tony Manero” (2008)

Serial killer films don’t come any funnier than this political allegory from Chile.  It’s insane, amoral protagonist obliquely mirrors the Pinochet regime’s philosophy and behaviour.  Or perhaps I should say he “mirror balls” it given that the plot has fifty-something Raul Peralta being so obsessed with the John Travolta character in “Saturday Night Fever” and a corresponding desire to win a ‘Tony Manero’ lookalike contest run by a local television station that he will brutally murder anyone who gets in his way. A subplot involving Raul’s complicated personal life and inability to perform sexually doesn’t pull any punches either.  What Raul does to a rival’s jacket should best be discovered first hand and preferably not while eating.