Quartile rating: 8/10 · 2 ratings
A documentary on the oddball Greenwich Village eatery, Shopsin's.
I Like Killing Flies is a genuinely singular documentary built around one of New York's most idiosyncratic personalities. Kenny Shopsin is a force of nature—opinionated, funny, and deeply philosophical in unexpected ways—making this a one-of-a-kind portrait that earns its high Novelty score through sheer distinctiveness of subject and voice. The film's structure follows the looming relocation of Shopsin's diner, giving it a loose but functional narrative arc (Plot: adequate, above average for a doc). The 'acting' dimension translates to how subjects perform on camera—Kenny and his family are naturalistic and compelling, though the film doesn't demand much range. Cinematography is the weakest link: the cramped diner setting is used effectively for atmosphere but the visual execution is functional at best, often murky and unpolished in ways that feel more like limitation than choice. The ending, while bittersweet and emotionally resonant given the relocation stakes, doesn't land with particular power. Overall a deeply charming and memorable film elevated by an irreplaceable central figure.