Out of Hand (2023) – Review and Summary
Out of Hand, a Tubi original, feels like a porno without any porn.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Out of Hand” Film Summary
My job is to inform you what “Out of Hand” is about, but that task is gonna require more wine than any liquor store has in stock. “Out of Hand” must’ve been what Tubi said about this movie’s plot after watching this soap opera unfold. The murder mystery-slash-thriller-slash-seduction-tale twists its knife whichever way it wants without a care about logistics! The wackier “Out of Hand” gets with its numerous plotlines and characters, the more fun it becomes.
“Out of Hand” starts simple. We have murder mystery writer Valerie Cross (Louise Linton) about to start writing the final book in her trilogy. Her books are popular yet gruesome and focus on a serial killer. Valerie’s boyfriend, David (Pierson Fode), is a fitness coach who manages his own business. When one of those employees, Angela, goes missing, cops question David and Valerie about their whereabouts. But don’t worry; the cops also seem to let David and Valerie immediately leave town and go to a secluded cabin in the woods where Valerie can write her book.
I can’t recall a single scene where Valerie is writing her book. What I do recall is Valerie’s ex-boyfriend-slash-book-agent (?) Leonard (William Baldwin) offers her more cash to write her books while roasting her current boyfriend, David going on a killing spree of his own employees, another subplot of Angela’s boyfriend hunting down Valerie and David, and Valerie befriending (AND romancing) a sexy but mysterious lady named Sophia (Joanna Metrass). How do all of these details connect? Who cares! “Out of Hand” is like a child distracted by the next shiny toy it sees and drops its stories like a pair of socks.
Characters walk around half-clothed, everyone has a secret involving murder or infidelity, and each scene vaguely feels like the non-porn scenes in a porn movie. In just 85 minutes, “Out of Hand” manages to kill off most of its cast and, in the last two minutes, attempts to explain why. But we don’t care. Who cares? No one. That’s who. It’s part of the fun of the movie. “Out of Hand” is the horny-murder book you find on the discount rack at Walgreens. Is it good? No. Is it bonkers? Yes, and sometimes bonkers is better than good.
“Out of Hand” Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member.
Valerie Cross
As an accomplished murder-mystery writer, Valerie yearns for the day when she will no longer have to teach and instead spend her days writing books. She may not believe in marriage or really be in love with her current boyfriend, but she feels protected by him.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Me You Madness.”
David
On the surface, David may be a boy toy. But deep down inside, he’s… well, I guess he’s still a boy toy. When he’s not busy having sex with Valerie, he’s murdering people, and when he’s not doing either, he’s giving a creepy speech about killing a puppy.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Man from Toronto.”
Sophia
I don’t know who Sophia is. Some lady that has read Valerie’s books and then has sex with her.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Once Upon a Time.”
Leonard
Leonard offers Valerie $3 million to continue writing the book series we never see. He roasts David. Then he dies.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Backdraft.”
“Out of Hand” Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
On The Fence
Goofy Murders are More Funny than Frightening
“Hey!” Michelle Gonzalez’s character Tori shouts as she rock climbs alone. Her wire gets cut, and she proceeds to scream to her death as the ground looks like it’s only 6 feet away from her. Murders in “Out of Hand” are sudden, baffling, and executed in a way that makes them more funny than tense. While they’re still entertaining, it’s hard to determine if the laughs were intentional.
One-Note Dialogue and Acting Creates Surreal Soap Opera
As mentioned before, everyone in “Out of Hand” acts as if they’re in a porno without the porn scenes. Smirks and poker faces are dished out like candy on Halloween. While it semi-works due to the mysterious nature of each character, if the script calls for anger or grief, the acting can feel stiff. The final product feels like a daytime soap opera.
“Out of Hand” is Out of Hand
What’s the main plot? Who killed Angela? Valerie doesn’t seem to care. Will David and Valerie get their comeuppance? That’s a peripheral story. How do all of these stories come together, what’s their theme, and what do they have to do with Angela’s book? “Out of Hand” is a puzzle with pieces that don’t fit together, yet the pieces themselves are so scandalous that it’s okay if the final product leaves a mess on the table.
Who Is This For?
Fans of quick and dirty mysteries, scandals, and murders with a side of seduction might enjoy “Out of Hand.”
“Out of Hand” General Information
| Director | Brian Skiba |
| Screenplay By | Sean Crayne |
| Date Released | December 28, 2023 |
| How To Watch | Tubi |
| Genre(s) | Mystery |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 26 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Not Rated |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Valerie Cross | Louise Linton |
| David | Pierson Fode |
| Sophia | Joana Metrass |
| Leonard | William Baldwin |
Content Rating Explanation
“Out of Hand” is not rated, but it has profanity, sex scenes, and a murder mystery with violent details throughout its plot.
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