movie reviews to catch a killer

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, to catch a killer.

Now streaming on:

After a deadly sniper leaves 29 people dead on New Year’s Eve, the FBI's chief investigator Geoffrey Lammark ( Ben Mendelsohn ) lectures the Baltimore Police Department that their suspect is not a type, reminding them that he is a person and that “somebody loved him, somebody trained him, and somebody sold him that gun.” Among those listening is a young beat cop named Eleanor ( Shailene Woodley , who also serves as producer), who was a first responder on the night of the attack. The two attempt to navigate a corrupt system that is more concerned with the public’s opinion of them than with the public’s safety in Damián Szifron ’s “To Catch a Killer.”

The thriller, which Szifron co-wrote with Jonathan Wakeham , aims to use the serial killer movie formula to critique our failing systems and take shots at everything from politicians to the FBI to police departments to the media to jingoistic fascists to the military-industrial complex to the NRA to America’s limited access to mental health care. However, its ambitions overwhelm its abilities. While Szifron and cinematographer Javier Juliá’s imagery is stylish—and well-lit!—their work is hampered by overwrought plotting and underdeveloped characters.

Woodley’s Eleanor is introduced similarly to Angelia Jolie’s character in Phillip Noyce ’s far superior entry in the genre, 1999’s “ The Bone Collector .” After she arrives on the scene of the shooting, a nearby apartment explodes. Her quick wits lead her to get the other beat cops to start recording all the faces of those fleeing the destruction, lest the shooter is among them. That the script doesn’t use this moment to say anything about our current surveillance state remains a curious oversight. 

Later, while investigating the remains of the bombed-out apartment, she helps the FBI think outside the box in terms of places the perpetrator may have left his DNA. After fishing some feces out of a toilet, they discover the perp has an iron deficiency and, therefore, may be a vegetarian. This fresh perspective leads Lammark to reassign Eleanor as BPD’s liaison to the FBI. From there, the film moves through the exact kind of investigative beats you’d expect, with Eleanor lending her brain to Lammark and his team, including charismatic FBI Agent Jack Mackenzie ( Jovan Adepo ). 

Unfortunately, certain moments, like a dinner discussion between Lammark and his husband Gavin ( Michael Cram ), devolve into trite didacticism. And, other than being gay, Lammark feels like a stereotypical hard-as-nails cop. Although Mendelsohn attempts to bring complexity to the character, many of his flowery speeches come off like parodies of those given by Mandy Patinkin ’s poetic profiler Gideon in the early seasons of “Criminal Minds.”

Eleanor is positioned as a “modern-day Clarice Starling,” yet Woodley is sorely out of her depth here. Scenes of her returning to the sparse apartment she shares with a cat (whose name we never learn) to pensively take a bath, swimming alone in a large Olympic pool, or walking the streets at night alone are meant to paint her as a loner, but again mostly play like a parody of this kind of character. 

For about two-thirds of the runtime, I was on board with what the film was trying to do even despite these flaws in characterization. But when it was revealed that the FBI had rejected Eleanor because she failed her psyche eval, yet Lammark thought she was the right person to catch this killer because of her tortured soul, the film lost me completely. Eleanor is no Will Graham , and Woodley is not up to the task of bringing the kind of layers Hugh Dancy brought to that character on “ Hannibal ” for three seasons. 

When Eleanor finally does end up face to face with the killer, Woodley simply does not have the gravitas needed to pull off the intended emotions of the scene. She’s also responsible for maybe the worst line delivery of the year, pleading with the killer to seek medical care, exclaiming, “Medication. That shit works.”

Terrible dialogue aside, what is most disappointing about the film's third act is how it botches its attempt at a sophisticated critique of the many broken systems plaguing modern American society. Ultimately, "To Catch a Killer" blames all of the gruesome violence it depicts on the perpetrator’s mental health and offers only a surface-level exploration of the system that failed him. 

On VOD and in limited release today.

Marya E. Gates

Marya E. Gates is a freelance film and culture writer based in Los Angeles and Chicago. She studied Comparative Literature at U.C. Berkeley, and also has an overpriced and underused MFA in Film Production. Other bylines include Moviefone, The Playlist, Crooked Marquee, Nerdist, and Vulture. 

Now playing

Megamind vs the Doom Syndicate

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Matt zoller seitz.

Red Right Hand

Apples Never Fall

Cristina escobar.

Peter Sobczynski

Film credits.

To Catch a Killer (2023)

Rated R for strong violent content, and language throughout.

119 minutes

Shailene Woodley as Eleanor Falco

Ben Mendelsohn as Geoffrey Lammark

Jovan Adepo as MacKenzie

Ralph Ineson as Dean Possey

Rosemary Dunsmore as Mrs. Possey

Jason Cavalier as Marquand

Mark Camacho as Chief Karl Jackson

Darcy Laurie as Ramsey Lang

Karine Dion as Mrs. Miller

• Damián Szifron
• Jonathan Wakeham

Cinematographer

• Javier Julia
• Carter Burwell

Latest blog posts

Netflix Reimagines Patricia Highsmith's Timeless Character in the Chilling Ripley

The People’s Joker and Six Other Films That Were Stuck in Legal Limbo

Metrograph Highlights Remarkable Career of Lee Chang-dong

Female Filmmakers in Focus: Alice Rohrwacher on La Chimera

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

To Catch a Killer review – Shailene Woodley sniper thriller like mid-season CSI

This flat-footed serial-killer hunt, co-starring Ben Mendelsohn, is full of underwritten cops who seem to have no real idea what they’re doing

S hailene Woodley (Big Little Lies, Divergent) stars as Eleanor Falco, a young Baltimore beat cop who seems unhappy both at home and at work. There’s no time to dig any deeper into the cause of Officer Falco’s malaise, however, before she – and we – are plunged into the action of a paint-by-numbers police thriller. There’s a sniper on the loose, picking off victims at random in the downtown area, and maverick FBI investigator Geoffrey Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn) has been drafted in to put a stop to the killing.

Lammark believes he recognises a fellow profiling savant in Falco, so she’s fast-tracked into his unit, despite her lack of training. Could Lammark be mistaking portentous wildlife analogies for actual insight? He does seem overly impressed when she says stuff like, “Evil is cutting off a bird’s wings just to see what happens; this guy’s shooting mosquitos.” But then Lammark’s own detective skills are apparently limited to enigmatic growling and looking good in a trench coat, so the bar is low. There’s also a third team member, played by Babylon’s Jovan Adepo, but even by the standards of a script that generally skates over characterisation, he’s too underwritten to warrant much attention.

From there, the plot proceeds like a mid-season episode of CSI: Anywhere, just with better cinematography and a mournful cello score. Crime thrillers usually benefit from a strong sense of place, but the Baltimore of director Damián Szifron (previously responsible for the much-admired Wild Tales ) isn’t one you’d recognise from John Waters movies or The Wire. Probably because it’s actually Montreal.

Lammark and Falco’s investigation is similarly uncentered. As their search radius widens into snow-covered fields and factory break rooms, they follow false leads, butt heads with superiors and use every hostage negotiation as an excuse to opine on the decline of American values. Or something. All the while they display zero knowledge of the criminal psychology that is their supposed expertise. If this film is remembered for anything, it will be marking the end of actor Ben Mendelsohn’s hot streak. You used to be able to tell a worthwhile watch from his presence. No longer.

• Crime films
• Shailene Woodley
• Ben Mendelsohn

Most viewed

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

To catch a killer, common sense media reviewers.

Realistic gun violence in intense mass shooter crime drama.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Expressing compassion and empathy can help solve p

Eleanor is finding her way through living with anx

The team trying to stop the killer includes Eleano

Explicit, realistic depictions of a mass shooting,

A female corpse's bare breasts are seen in the mor

Strong language includes "ass," "a--hole," "balls,

Land Rover featured with brand name displayed a fe

References to Eleanor's past as a heavy drug user,

Parents need to know that To Catch a Killer is an extremely violent crime drama that realistically depicts what it looks like when a mass murderer opens fire on innocent people. Writer-director Damián Szifron never turns his camera away from the scene, capturing the horror of innocent bystanders being gunned…

Positive Messages

Expressing compassion and empathy can help solve problems, but a lack of those qualities worsens them.

Positive Role Models

Eleanor is finding her way through living with anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness by using her experiences (which include past drug use and attempted suicide) to find purpose. She's respectful, creates boundaries, and demonstrates compassion, empathy, perseverance, integrity, self-control. But the mass-murdering villain is presented with some level of respect and understanding: When he gives a speech about why his actions are his solution to address the failings of the world, it's delivered in a way that seems to encourage audiences to nod along with him.

Diverse Representations

The team trying to stop the killer includes Eleanor (Shailene Woodley), a perceptive, insightful young White woman who's living with mental illness; Agent Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn), a married White gay man; and Detective Mackenzie (Jovan Adepo), who's Black. Diversity in race, gender, age, sexuality also seen in supporting, minor, and background characters.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Explicit, realistic depictions of a mass shooting, with innocent people being hit by bullets with lifelike blood spray. Death by suicide, visual evidence of attempted suicide. Shoot-out. Building explosion and fire; terrified people escaping en masse in stairwells. Description of torture. Grisly images of cattle in a slaughterhouse, from preparing them for death to carcasses hanging from the ceiling to skulls with eyeballs. Bloody corpses splayed on the ground. Punches. Head wound. Spoiler alert: One character bites another's neck fatally while defending herself.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A female corpse's bare breasts are seen in the morgue.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Strong language includes "ass," "a--hole," "balls," "bulls--t," "damn," "goddammit," "s--t," and several uses of "f--k."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Land Rover featured with brand name displayed a few times, indicating potential product placement.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

References to Eleanor's past as a heavy drug user, intended to make her sympathetic. Drinking. Joke about a suspect selling "weed."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that To Catch a Killer is an extremely violent crime drama that realistically depicts what it looks like when a mass murderer opens fire on innocent people. Writer-director Damián Szifron never turns his camera away from the scene, capturing the horror of innocent bystanders being gunned down in "safe" environments (an elevator, at the mall, etc.). This may spark anxiety in teens, especially those who already worry about their safety. Additionally, a building explodes, and the aftermath resembles a scene from 9/11, with hundreds of terrified people in peril racing down a stairwell to escape. There's a violent death by suicide and other gory moments. Bare breasts are shown on a dead body, characters drink and reference drug use, and strong language includes "f--k," "a--hole," "s--t," and more. Police officer Eleanor Falco ( Shailene Woodley ), the main character, is finding her way through living with anxiety, depression, and feelings of worthlessness by using her experiences (which include past drug use and attempted suicide) to find purpose. She's selected to work with FBI investigators because she's naturally observant, perceptive, sharp, and empathetic, and the movie's ultimate message is that compassion solves problems, and a lack of it creates them. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

When Baltimore cop Eleanor Falco ( Shailene Woodley ) responds to a mass shooting on New Year's Eve, her astute insight and bravery capture the attention of the chief investigator, Agent Geoffrey Lammark ( Ben Mendelsohn ). Using her own trauma to get inside the head of the gunman, Eleanor works with a small team of FBI investigators TO CATCH A KILLER.

Is It Any Good?

The movie is well made, well acted, and intelligent, but writer-director Damián Szifron's choice to depict a mass shooting with realism feels more dangerous than helpful. Experiencing the full shock and horror as the shooting occurs seems more likely to drive fear than change. And although Szifron's approach doesn't glamorize gun violence, it still feels like it could encourage a potential shooter who might be thinking about doing something similar. The shrewd FBI investigators at times seem to express respect for the murderer's cleverness, and the villain has his opportunity to give a speech about why his actions are his solution to address the failings of the world. It's delivered in a way that seems to encourage viewers to nod along with him, which is problematic, and compassion is offered in an unexpected, controversial way. The filmmakers' intended goal may be to deter and stop mass shootings, but someone at risk of doing something violent themselves could interpret To Catch a Killer as validation.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in To Catch a Killer . Does it serve the story? How does showing it wholly and realistically impact viewers?

How are compassion and empathy demonstrated? How are these character strengths woven into the film's message? Do you think certain actions or behaviors should exclude anyone from receiving compassionate treatment?

How does Eleanor demonstrate courage , perseverance , and integrity ? Why are these important character skills? Do you consider her a role model?

How are mental health and mental illness addressed in the movie, both through Eleanor and the shooter? Why is it important for someone who's suffering to feel supported in seeking help?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 21, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : July 11, 2023
• Cast : Shailene Woodley , Ben Mendelsohn , Jovan Adepo
• Director : Damián Szifron
• Inclusion Information : Latino directors, Female actors, Black actors, Latino writers
• Studio : Vertical Entertainment
• Genre : Drama
• Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Self-control
• Run time : 119 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : strong violent content, and language throughout
• Last updated : August 4, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

The Silence of the Lambs

The Blacklist

Thriller movies, best mystery movies, related topics.

• Perseverance
• Self-control

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

‘To Catch a Killer’ Review: Shailene Woodley Hunts a Mass Shooter on the Loose in Baltimore

Argentine director Damian Szifon’s first English-language feature is an investigative thriller that’s expertly handled if a bit over-familiar.

By Dennis Harvey

Dennis Harvey

Film Critic

• ‘Strictly Confidential’ Review: Makeout Scenes and Flimsy Melodrama on a Caribbean Isle 19 hours ago
• ‘The Bones’ Review: It’s Paleontologists vs. Profit in Entertaining Look at the Fossil Trade 3 weeks ago
• ‘5lbs of Pressure’ Review: Forgiveness Comes Hard for an Ex-Con in This Unconvincing Crime Drama 1 month ago

In 2014, Argentine writer-director Damian Szifron made a considerable splash with “Wild Tales.” The Oscar-nominated, Almodóvar-produced feature consisted of six escalatingly over-the-top stories that put a blackly comic slant on human behaviors at their worst, adding up to a flamboyantly enjoyable whole. It’s surprising that it’s taken him nearly a decade to deliver his next feature, and more surprising still that it turns out to be his English-language debut “ To Catch a Killer .” 

Amidst fireworks noise, attendees at a penthouse New Year’s Eve party are slow to realize they’re under lethal attack by sniper fire, as are others in the surrounding area. When police arrive and trace the trajectory of bullets, they figure the shooter is (or was) in a high-rise opposite — a suspicion confirmed when a flat in that building explodes, erasing any evidence. By then, twenty-nine people have been killed by a marksman so expert that not a single shot missed, or merely wounded. 

Among street cops initially responding to the emergency is Eleanor Falco (Woodley). Later, FBI investigator Lammark (Mendelsohn) overhears her speculations about the massacre — while others assume some terrorist organization is involved, she thinks it’s a lone wolf — and is impressed. He figures she’s either got the makings of a good detective, is as messed-up as the perp, or, as it turns out, both. He’s an ornery, exacting type with little respect for local police personnel, so he requisitions this low-ranking officer as a “liaison” who’ll work alongside him and his sole other chosen teammate, the more affable Mackenzie (Jovan Adepo). 

As police indiscriminately arrest every paranoid malcontent in sight, anxious to quell public pressure, our central trio search for their quarry in more methodical fashion. That frustrates politicians, media and other powers seeking quick results, a situation worsened when there’s a second mass shooting, almost certainly by the same person. The film’s last half hour leaves the city for a wintry countryside where that murderer is in hiding, and their explanatory discontents (until recently, the project was titled “Misanthrope”) are revealed.

As that intel spills out in some awkward speechifying, it’s a bit too late to make any meaningful statement about the kind of resentful social isolation, conspiracy theorizing and bigotry that often seems to create such trigger-happy monsters today. Likewise, the complexities of Woodley and Mendelsohn’s “difficult” characters aren’t probed enough in the writing to feel fully realized, though both performers are fine.

Nonetheless, the film does work quite well as a procedural thriller, maintaining a tense, haunted atmosphere between peaks of skillfully realized action. Particularly good are scenes in which we know something terrible is about to happen in a mall food court, and a shootout in a chain drugstore — Szifron (who’s also editor here) and cinematographer Javier Julia make the bland brightness of those retail settings crackle with imminent danger.

The notion of city as potential target-shooting range is depicted vividly enough that there’s something anticlimactic about the final rural stretch, competently staged as it is. Montreal stands in capably enough for Baltimore in a simultaneously sleek and gritty design package whose only duff note is a slight excess of aerial shots (and gimmicky upside-down perspectives) in Julia’s otherwise first-rate widescreen photography.  

Indeed, the worst thing you can say about “To Catch a Killer” is that it’s so adeptly executed in all departments that one is disappointed it ends up feeling a tad generic. It’s engrossing, sometimes exciting, yet never fully free from an overall sense of derivation. It’s the classic case of a movie good enough, with sufficiently strong talent onboard, that you wonder why it isn’t better — why a progress that firmly holds a viewer for two hours leaves so fleeting an impression afterward.

Reviewed online, March 10, 2023. MPAA rating: R. Running time: 119 MIN.

• Production: A Vertical Entertainment release of a Vertical Entertainment, Filmnation Entertainment, Rainmaker Films presentation of a Filmnation Entertainment production. Producers: Aaron Ryder, Stuart Manashil, Damian Szifron, Shailene Woodley. Execudtive producers: Ben Basner, Alison Cohen, Milan Popelka, Michael A. Jackman, Clay Pecorin, Russell Geyser, Russ Posternak, Jane Sinisi. Co-producer: Paul Barbeau.
• Crew: Director, editor: Damian Szifron. Screenplay: Szifron, Jonathan Wakeham. Camera: Javier Julia. Music: Carter Burwell. 
• With: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo, Ralph Ineson, Richard Zeman, Dusan Dukic, Jason Cavalier, Nick Walker, Darcy Laurie, Mark Camacho, Frank Schorpion.

More From Our Brands

Marcus king finds soul salvation on ‘mood swings’, this $48 million miami beach condo has 3,500 square feet of wraparound terracing, nc state booster club, nil collective riding final four gravy train , the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, is young sheldon shooting a funeral scene, verify it's you, please log in.

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘To Catch a Killer’ Review: Shailene Woodley Tortures Herself (and Us) in Dull ‘Silence of the Lambs’ Copycat

Samantha bergeson.

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

If a tired retelling of a serial killer thriller premieres in theaters and nobody sees it, did it actually happen? Unfortunately, yes.

For “To Catch a Killer,” her first feature in two years, Shailene Woodley (who also produces the film) attempts to craft her own take on the inimitable Clarice Starling. But we’ve all already seen “To Catch a Killer” before: The thriller is a watered-down notch in the belt of psychological serial killer dramas in the vein of everything from “Silence of the Lambs” to “Zodiac,” even “The Dark Knight” and “The Batman.” Imitation? It’s not always the highest form of flattery.

The film marks director Damián Szifron’s English-language debut. Once a hot filmmaker after collaborating with producer Pedro Almodóvar on 2014 Cannes-selected satirical film “Wild Tales,” which had the biggest opening in Argentinian film history at the time , Szifron effectively disappeared from filmmaking for over a decade despite being set to helm Mark Wahlberg’s “Six Billion Dollar Man” remake. Now, “To Catch a Killer” is Szifron’s misdirected (literally) comeback, with a script he co-wrote with Jonathan Wakeham.

The film opens with an impressive massacre: An expert sniper slaughters more than 25 random people throughout Baltimore by shooting into high rises during the New Year’s Eve fireworks show. Eleanor Falco (Woodley) is one of the first cops on the scene of a particularly devastating murder of a young boy; soon, she gets recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and hunt the killer.

Per the official synopsis (yes, this even includes a cringe-inducing desperate call out to Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling herself), Eleanor’s “tortured psyche” makes her the “only person who can understand the mind of their assailant and bring him to justice.” But why is she scooped up by the FBI so casually and so quickly? Because Eleanor has a traumatic background  and is  really smart and other vague reasons.

Most of her “investigating” comes from eavesdropping on what the real FBI agents, led by Mendelsohn’s character, are saying. It’s not until the halfway point of the movie that Eleanor announces the agency should be looking into ex-military veterans with sniper backgrounds due to the shooter’s marksmanship. Wouldn’t this be one of the first things the FBI would do? Even a basic procedural show like “Law & Order” would know better — and provide better pacing.

Mendelsohn’s casting as an FBI agent is distracting enough as a “Dark Knight Rises” alum, which makes it glaringly obvious just how badly “To Catch a Killer” stacks up against Christopher Nolan’s films and other crime dramas. The color palette is the same — depressing grey — as is the general mood, as endless stakeouts prove to be fruitless, the cops only finding leads after yet another shootout has occurred.

Throw in heavy-handed political commentaries on gun violence, right-wing media, and first-person-shooter videogames, and “To Catch a Killer” makes even less sense. It’s hard not to laugh out loud when Eleanor reveals her own dark past that led her to becoming a cop: It’s shot like a comedy, and makes us wonder if Szifron was even taking Woodley’s obvious acting vehicle seriously or not.

It would be grotesque to compare how “To Catch a Killer” tries to do a beat-by-beat remake of David Fincher’s “Zodiac,” a true masterpiece. It would also be in poor taste to convey the revulsion of violent sequences that tackle everything from racist motivations to the need to cleanse the U.S. for a national “reset” in the vein of the Qanon devout. There is no commentary or thoughtful explanation to any of it, just blind statements sent out to agitate and confuse its audience.

It’s enough to make us wonder the truly crazy: Are we supposed to be rooting  for this killer? Considering how much we’re forced to believe a homeless veteran is the one slaughtering dozens of people in public due to a head trauma from combat, it’s a valid question. But there’s no real answer here, just as there’s no real message to the film. It’s no “Zodiac,” no “Silence of the Lambs,” and certainly no movie worth watching.

Vertical releases “To Catch a Killer” in theaters on Friday, April 21.

Most Popular

You may also like.

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

Movie Review – To Catch a Killer (2023)

July 11, 2023 by Robert Kojder

To Catch a Killer , 2023.

Directed by Damián Szifron. Starring Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo, Ralph Ineson, Rosemary Dunsmore, Jason Cavalier, Mark Camacho, Darcy Laurie, Karine Dion, Arthur Holden, Richard Zeman, Adam LeBlanc, Sean Tucker, Erniel Baez Duenas, Dusan Dukic, Bobby Brown, Mark Antony Krupa, Michael Cram, Frank Schorpion, Dawn Lambing, and Lilou Roy-Lanouette.

Baltimore. New Year’s Eve. A talented but troubled police officer (Shailene Woodley) is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track down a disturbed individual terrorizing the city.

There is too much procedure in To Catch a Killer , a procedural thriller involving a serial mass murderer and a tortured soul Boston beat cop maneuvering her way into working with the FBI on the case because they need someone with a similarly disturbed mind to identify someone who has no clear patterns or motives for killing. Co-writer and director Damián Szifron (working alongside Jonathan Wakeham) are certainly interested in that juxtaposition but explores it in such a muddled fashion that all there really is to say is that aspiring agent Eleanor Falco (Shailene Woodley) has a history of self-harm and the killer is basically a misanthrope for several reasons that never necessarily click as compelling or thought-provoking.

FBI agent Geoffrey Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn) is brought in to oversee the manhunt but also has other high-ranking authority figures breathing down his neck to either show results or give the public droplets of information and stunts that don’t provide much use to anyone or chase down targets that don’t fit the modus operandi once he and Eleanor do nail down an idea of who they are looking for. This means that To Catch a Killer is also about the flaws and boneheaded, backfiring decisions made during a procedural investigation, which often hinders one’s engagement with the mystery at hand.

It’s unfortunate, considering Damián Szifron has a knack for crafting and staging terrifyingly inspired sequences that appropriately capture the horror of mass shooting incidents without going fully overboard into tasteless, exploitative shock value. To Catch a Killer opens on New Year’s Eve at a loud party with fireworks blowing off nonstop. There also happens to be a sniper holed up in an empty room in the apartment across the street, using the fireworks as cover to pick off individuals partying on balconies, in hot tubs, or casually hanging around. It’s also shot without directly placing the targets in the center of the frame, allowing viewers to get a sense of the party’s scale with a queasy fear of which one will be shot next.

Visually, that’s about as riveting as this experience gets. From there, the film goes into a revolving door state of moderately intriguing when watching these characters discuss the rights and wrongs to identify a killer while also deducing what the killer is or isn’t after, to overlong boredom with too many detours and subplots (there’s an entire segment dedicated to Lammark’s home life and marriage that doesn’t add anything). Sonically, the filmmakers have attracted the reliable Carter Burwell to do the score, which is easily the strongest aspect aside from the unsettling opening sequence.

Once these characters come face-to-face with the killer and have a definitive explanation of why and what led to these heinous crimes, it never elevates into the deep psychological territory the filmmakers aim for. If anything, To Catch a Killer becomes more phony and pointless the longer it goes on. There’s a kernel of a solid idea here, hyper-focusing on putting together a modus operandi, but weak themes, excessive side stories, and underexplored characters surround it.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★  / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check  here  for new reviews, follow my  Twitter  or  Letterboxd , or email me at [email protected]

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Essential One Man Army Action Movies

The Essential Horror-Comedies of the 21st Century

The Gruesome Brilliance of 1980s Italian Horror

13 Underrated Horror Sequels That Deserve More Love

Yellowstone: Interesting Fan Theories About How The Taylor Sheridan Show Will End

The Walking Dead Spinoffs Could Merge Into One Final Showdown: Here Is Why

Ten Essential British Horror Movies You Have To See

The 1990s in Comic Book Movies

Die Hard on a Shoestring: The Low Budget Die Hard Clones

Yellowstone: What Will Happen to John Dutton in Season 5 Part 2? Fan Theories Explained

• Comic Books
• Video Games
• Toys & Collectibles
• Articles and Opinions
• About Flickering Myth
• Write for Flickering Myth
• Advertise on Flickering Myth
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Screen Rant

To catch a killer review: woodley & mendelsohn stand out despite a weak script.

To Catch a Killer isn’t as strong as its predecessors, but it’s backed by great performances and sequences even when it leans into implausibility.

Television shows and films about serial killers have stood the test of time in popular culture. Tapping into the psyches of the different types of murderers seems to intrigue audiences unlike any other genre. In his English language debut, director Damián Szifron takes on this genre with screenwriting partner Jonathan Wakeham. Their script sees Shailene Woodley as a modern-day Clarice Starling whose past both interferes and assists with tracking a disturbed individual. While it doesn’t exactly nail everything it sets out to accomplish, the film contains some great moments that deem it worthy of a singular watch. To Catch a Killer isn’t as strong as its predecessors, but it’s backed by great performances and sequences even when it leans into implausibility.

Woodley stars as Eleanor, a young police investigator who constantly wrestles with the demons of her past in order to stay focused at work. Tables begin to turn for Eleanor when she is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator Geoffrey Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track the work of an unstable serial killer. As the police and FBI launch a nationwide manhunt, the teams are left to second guess the killer’s unprecedented behavior. Given her past and tortured psyche, Eleanor may just be the only person who can understand the mind of the murderer and finally bring him to justice.

Szifron and Wakeham’s script for To Catch a Killer isn’t as strong as one would hope, but there are plenty of elements throughout to deem it worthy of a one-time watch. The film opens with a sensationally creative sequence that captures an intricate killing spree by the film’s star murderer. With 20+ bodies discovered and scattered throughout the city, it’s up to the local police and FBI’s finest to put the pieces together and find justice for the families. In comes Lammark (Mendelsohn) to lead the investigation, which is where the script begins to falter. This is certainly not due to his performance because he is one of the standouts of the film. But the methods in which he takes to uncover the truth seem a little bizarre for an investigator who is supposed to have a longstanding career of solving murder mysteries.

His plan involves Eleanor, a junior police officer with a history of addiction and a failed attempt at joining the FBI. She relies on her instincts and wits to suggest basic next steps, which actually entails eavesdropping on conversations and hanging around where she isn’t supposed to be. A little odd, perhaps, but it’s what gets the story moving. Despite these unrealistic circumstances that make Eleanor and Geoffrey the perfect duo to hunt down the killer, their chemistry works really well, and their dialogue is among some of the highlights in To Catch a Killer . Contrivances aside, another great focal point of the film, surprisingly, is unraveling more background information about these two leads and less on the killer.

In spite of these rare great moments that seem to populate the film at sporadic times, other sequences require audiences to attempt to get past their annoyances with the film to remain engaged. For example, nearly halfway through To Catch a Killer , the script resorts to a trope that would only result in eye rolls from its viewers. In an attempt to “trick” audiences, there exists an entire sequence on alt-right hoopla that provides no real commentary nor does it amount to anything meaningful. Instead, it’s just there to exist and frustrate its viewers to no end, while simultaneously adding minutes to an already longer-than-necessary runtime. It’s a questionable sequence that unfortunately results in an uneven viewing experience.

To Catch a Killer isn’t a bad movie by any means. There are some stellar sequences that highlight the excitement that this genre often provides. Yet, these moments are either overshadowed by implausible elements within the script or undermined by sequences that don’t matter for the advancement of the plot. Despite these unfortunate factors, Woodley and Mendelsohn do everything they can to convert the weak story to something worth watching. They make a valiant effort, but along the attempt, too many hurdles stand in the way. Perhaps that’s a testament to what it takes to make this genre of filmmaking work. Reliance on viewers’ intrigue won’t ever be enough.

To Catch a Killer will release in theaters on April 21. The film is 119 minutes and rated for strong language and violent content.

To Catch a Killer Ending, Explained: Who is the Killer?

Damián Szifron’s ‘To Catch a Killer’ is a crime drama film about an FBI investigation against a trained sniper killer in Baltimore. Starring Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn as the central duo, the film revolves around a beat cop Eleanor, and FBI Special Agent Lammark. Following a mass shooting on New Year’s Eve, Agent Lammark works with the police department to catch their killer and comes across Eleanor, a talented but troubled cop with great instincts. As the duo teams up, Eleanor tries to tap into the shooter’s psyche while Lammark deals with immense departmental pressure.

If you’re curious to find out more about the shooter and where this investigation leads Eleanor and Lammark, here is everything you need to know about the ending of ‘To Catch a Killer.’ SPOILERS AHEAD!

To Catch a Killer Plot Synopsis

As fireworks go off over Baltimore City, marking a new year, a shooter randomly kills 29 people across rooftops, buildings, and ice-skating rinks with expert marksmanship. As the cops figure out the sniper’s location, the apartment blows up, leaving little to no evidence behind. Later, Lammark, assigned to the case, debriefs the local police department about the crime, instating his belief that the shooting was not an act of terrorism .

Shortly afterward, Lammark notices Eleanor and hires her as his liaison from the BPD. While Lammark fruitlessly tries to convince the mayor to shut down the city’s highway, his team figures out the make and model of the sniper used during the shooting. Upon Eleanor’s suggestion, the team looks into the military’s arsenal keepers due to the gun’s vintage status.

Soon, Lammark gets an alert that Frank Graber, another detective hungry for recognition and credit, has seemingly found a lead suspect, Hasna Rahmani. Once Lammark and his team arrive on the scene, he protests the mission since all of Graber’s evidence is flimsy and circumstantial. Nevertheless, Graber gives his orders, and armed cops storm Rahmani’s apartment, leading to his death after he jumps out of the window.

Afterward, Lammark’s investigation progresses, and he continues to pick Eleanor’s brain about the case by inviting her to dinner with his husband, Gavin. Meanwhile, much to Lammark’s agitation, the public speculates and theorizes about the killer’s identity applying just about every stereotype in the book, from terrorist sleeper cells to Jewish plots.

Eventually, the shooter strikes again in a mall, leaving multiple dead bodies behind. Due to the same, Lammark’s superiors put added pressure on him. While Lammark deals with the mayor, Eleanor recovers crucial evidence with Agent McKenzie’s help. Nevertheless, Mayor Bowen coerces Lammark into releasing the mall security footage to the public to maintain his image. As a result, several people call the police station, including a racist guy who claims to be a part of a dangerous invisible army.

Due to department pressure, Lammark and his team track down the caller, moving into an operation against him. In the end, the mission results in several casualties and no progression with the case. The department uses Lammark as their scapegoat to assign blame, firing him and transferring the case to another agent. As such, Eleanor goes into a spiral, contemplating resorting to her previous self-harm habits. However, Eleanor soon has an epiphany about the case that might just lead them straight to the killer.

To Catch a Killer Ending: Who is the Killer?

Earlier in the investigation, Lammark brings in three guys who painted the apartment that the sniper first attacked from for questioning since they could have all had access to the location. Although everyone has an alibi, Eleanor suspects one of them, Rodney Lang, of hiding something. Eventually, Eleanor deciphers that Lang outsourced the painting job from somewhere else. Following the revelation, Eleanor goes to Lammark, and the pair revisit their investigation regardless of their lack of jurisdiction.

The thread leads Eleanor and Lammark to Dean Possey. From Possey’s mother, the duo learns about Dean’s traumatic past, where his father, a shooting instructor turned arsenal keeper, accidentally shot him when he was a kid. After the accident, Dean’s father trained him as a shooter with hopes of him enlisting in the army . However, due to his stunted social skills, the Army rejected Dean’s application deeming him unfit for service.

Afterward, Dean starts picking up odd jobs for low pay. Eventually, after a grueling job at the slaughterhouse, Dean starts detesting the world. He’s unable to fit inside a modern society with its fundamental capitalist and consumerist systems. The constant isolation Dean feels, added to social rejection, makes him feel like he’s trapped inside a neverending prison. As a result, first on new year’s Eve, when the outside world gets too loud with its fireworks, Dean snaps, going on a rampage until he vents out his frustration through bloodthirst. Similarly, Dean, prone to violence, impulsively shoots down multiple people at the mall.

Does Lammark Die?

After Lammark and Eleanor discover Dean Possey’s identity, they visit his mother’s house to apprehend him. Throughout the film, Lammark isn’t worried about getting credit for his work like his peers are. Instead, he’s only focused on finding the killer. Unlike the other detectives and media, who are intent on pinning a narrative on the killer of terrorism, conspiracy , or otherwise, Lammark looks at the case objectively.

Due to the same, he recognizes the potential in Eleanor and incorporates her into his team regardless of her past. However, after his wrongful termination from the Beureu, Lammark wants to bring in the killer himself to get back at the department. Therefore, he asks Eleanor not to involve McKenzie, who’s working with the FBI and enters the scene without backup.

While talking to Dean’s mother, Eleanor notices an eerie shed on the property and realizes Dean is hiding out there. Nevertheless, the realization comes too late, and Dean shoots Lammark through the window. An excellent marksman, Dean gets a clean shot, leaving Lammark to bleed out and die inside the house.

What Happens to Dean Possey?

Shortly after Lammark’s death, Dean’s mother exits the house and tries to talk to Dean on Eleanor’s instruction. However, his mother commits suicide after a lack of response from him. By doing so, she hopes to make him see the error of his ways and repent. Still, when Dean comes out to talk to Eleanor, he’s persistent and stubborn in his need for retribution.

Dean feels wronged by the world and can only deal with his anger through mindless killing. Eleanor, who faces similar demons that manifest as self-harm, tries to persuade Dean to turn himself in and get medical help. Nevertheless, Dean’s isolation and helplessness have pushed him too far, and he can’t return from it. As such, he asks Eleanor to put an end to his actions by killing him after he falls asleep next to his mother’s dead body.

However, before Eleanor can do the same, police, alerted by gunshot noise, arrive at the scene, startling Dean. As a result, he drags Eleanor to his shed and handcuffs her inside. Later, he goes out and shoots down the officers as several others, including the FBI, show up. Eleanor keeps trying to talk Dean out of fighting back to convince him that she can still help him.

Eleanor even resorts to asking Dean to kill himself since he seems prepared to embrace his death moments ago. Although Dean starts to calm down a bit, he still activates his bomb, killing several officers. As a result, Eleanor attacks him, biting his neck and drawing blood. Dean, profusely bleeding, stumbles out of the shed, but the police catch up to him. Ultimately, Dean tries to fight back during his last moments, but the officers shoot him down.

Does The FBI Hire Eleanor?

After the Baltimore shooter case closes, the mayor and his team discuss the situation with Eleanor. They try to get her to sign an official statement and agree to keep the case’s details classified. They want Eleanor to pretend she approached Dean Possey’s house as a part of the official investigation so that their own incompetence does not get exposed.

Additionally, they want Eleanor to keep her past with drug abuse a secret, to maintain a clean profile. In return, they offer to hire her as an Intelligence Analyst for the FBI. At the start of her career, Eleanor tried to apply for the same position, but the FBI rejected her after she failed her psych eval. As such, Eleanor knows their offer to promote her is an incentive for her compliance.

Although Eleanor would have swiftly turned such an offer down at the film’s start due to her principles, her time with Lammark has taught her better. She knows sometimes she must play by someone else’s rules in order to stay in the game. Since her investigation was illegal, Eleanor knows her future in law enforcement will be destroyed if she doesn’t cooperate.

Therefore, Eleanor agrees to the official statement with a few demands of her own. She asks the mayor to award Lammark a posthumous Medal of Valor and for Gavin to receive Lammark’s full pension. Moreover, she also asks for the position of Special Agent. The mayor agrees to her terms, and Eleanor goes on to start a new chapter of her life.

Read More: Is To Catch a Killer Based on a True Story?

SPONSORED LINKS

• Movie Explainers
• TV Explainers
• About The Cinemaholic

• Advertising

• Prime Video
• Best & Worst

Select Page

To Catch a Killer – Movie Review (4/5)

Posted by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard | Apr 19, 2023 | 4 minutes

TO CATCH A KILLER is a new crime thriller that begins in an extremely brutal way on New Year’s Eve. It’s a very character-driven story, and with a runtime of almost two hours, it’s not too long at all. Read our full To Catch a Killer movie review here!

TO CATCH A KILLER is a new movie in the crime, thriller, and drama genres. You should expect a movie along the lines of  The Bone Collector in terms of style and theme. A serial killer is on the loose, but really, he begins as a mass murderer on New Year’s Eve in Baltimore.

This makes for a very brutal opening scene that – understandably so – causes panic in the city.

This very character-driven thriller stars Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn. Two actors I found worked perfectly together. Overall, the story also focuses on the politics of working on a high-profile case. This element hit even harder as I’d just finished watching the Netflix documentary American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing .

Continue reading our To Catch a Killer movie review below. Find it in theaters from April 21, 2023.

A world full of misanthropes

To Catch a Killer  was originally titled Misanthrope which clearly refers to the killer. And yes, we do actually get to hear quite a lot from him as well. Both in terms of his life and motive. Whether you can recognize or agree with this motive isn’t really relevant. After all, that’s what makes this serial killer different from most other people!

WHAT IS A MISANTHROPE? A misanthrope is someone who has a general hatred, dislike, contempt, and distrust of both human beings, human behavior, and human nature in general.

It’s safe to say that the killer being chased is quite misanthropic. While we don’t get to see his face at first, he is recognizable a while before if you’re familiar with the actor playing him. Once they identify the killer, they still need to find him.

And it’s actually in this process – both of identifying and finding him – that it becomes apparent that many people in this movie are misanthropes. In fact, those that fight for justice are also constantly confronted with situations that are not fair or right. Combined with past trauma, this makes for quite a dark worldview. And you can’t blame any of them.

However, clearly, everyone misanthropic isn’t going around killing people. And therein lies the all-important difference!

 Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn star

Look, I know Shailene Woodley is one of those actors that have become a target. A person that some people just dislike for no particular reason – or every single tiny weird reason they can think of. Usually, the actors who suffer this obscure form of hate are young women who speak up and make their voices – and yes, opinions – heard.

I really like Shailene Woodley ( Big Little Lies ), so I can just watch her in a movie like this and relate to what she’s doing with her character. In this case, I think she’s doing an awesome job. Her character is a broken individual, in many ways, and not unlike Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) . Incidentally, Foster and Woodley co-starred in The Mauritanian (2021) .

And yet, Shailene Woodley’s character as police officer Eleanor Falco is a lot darker and has been (still is, in some ways) broken in an all-too-familiar way. To me, Shailene Woodley manages to exude both pain and strength in her portrayal which is exactly what’s needed.

Also, she works perfectly across from Ben Mendelsohn ( The Outsider ). He is an FBI Agent who sees her talent and tenacity and wants her on his team. But he is also brutal and ruthless when it comes to doing things the right way. His hand may be forced – in fact, it often is – but he takes responsibility and tries his best to play the political game.

Finally, there’s Ralph Ineson ( The VVitch ) is that final key role. His extremely deep voice is booming and makes him seem both soft and all-powerful depending on what words are being spoken.

Watch To Catch a Killer in US theaters!

Argentinian director Damián Szifron is the filmmaker behind  To Catch a Killer . He directed the movie and also co-wrote the screenplay with Jonathan Wakeham. It’s the feature film debut of screenwriter Jonathan Wakeham. Damián Szifron, on the other hand, is already an award-winning filmmaker.

He directed the 2014 genre-mix  Wild Tales  which won a BAFTA for “Best Film not in the English Language” and was also nominated for the “Best Foreign Language Film” Oscar. The film is actually on the IMDb Top Rated Movie list (at #196 as I’m writing this).  To Catch a Killer  is his first movie since  Wild Tales (2014).

The movie has a runtime that is just shy of two hours (1 hour and 59 minutes) including end credits. If you think this sounds like it might be too long or slow-paced, I’m happy to report that it really isn’t. I never stopped to think about how much time had passed.

And I can easily see more movies coming out in the future with Shailene Woodley’s character as Eleanor Falco trying to catch a new killer.

To Catch a Killer  opens in US theaters on April 21, 2023.

Director: Damián Szifron Writers: Damián Szifron, Jonathan Wakeham Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo

A modern-day Clarice Starling, Eleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young police investigator wrestling with the demons of her past when she is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track the work of a disturbed individual. As the police and FBI launch a nationwide manhunt, they are thwarted at every turn by the individual’s unprecedented behavior. Given her tortured psyche, Eleanor may be the only person who can understand the mind of their assailant and bring him to justice.

• Recent Posts

• The Antisocial Network: Memes to Mayhem – Netflix Review (3/5) - April 5, 2024
• Sugar – Apple TV+ Series Review - April 5, 2024
• Festival of the Living Dead – TUBI Review (1/5) - April 5, 2024

About The Author

Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!

Related Posts

Hellbender – Fantasia / Shudder Review (4/5)

February 23, 2022

Seance – Movie Review (2/5)

May 18, 2021

Finale / The Ringmaster – Movie Review (3/5)

November 26, 2018

Polaroid (3/5) – Movie Review

February 9, 2020

Pin It on Pinterest

Home » Movies

To Catch a Killer (2023) Review – a criminally wasteful thriller

Directed by Damián Szifron, we review the 2023 film To Catch a Killer, which does not contain spoilers.

To Catch a Killer has an exciting premise, a gripping opening sequence, and a riveting performance from one of the most respected actors in Hollywood. However, the script squanders all these to rely on a plot device that’s hardly justifiable.

It’s practically criminal.

To Catch a Killer (2023) Review and Plot Summary

The story follows a festive New Year’s night in Baltimore. The ominous night sky fills with fluorescent fireworks and blazing bullets, barely cooling off from the winter air.

At least a couple dozen people are shot and killed by a sniper from an unknown highrise. These include partygoers with live streams and taking selfies—even ones skating on an ice rink on the famous Avenue at White Marsh.

This killer refuses to discriminate because he detests human life on general principles.

The shooter’s nest blows up immediately when they determine the location. One of the first officers on the scene is Eleanor ( Shailene Woodley ) . She is an ambitious low-level beat cop with something to prove.

The FBI’s chief investigator, Geoffrey Lammark ( Babyteeth’s Ben Mendelsohn) , takes over the case. The armed agent thinks Eleanor’s tortured past and outside-the-box thinking may be the key to getting inside the killer’s head.

Formerly known as Misanthrope , which was a much better title, To Catch a Killer is the English language debut of Argentinian filmmaker Damián Szifron ( Wild Tales ) . The filmmaker wrote the script with scribe Jonathan Wakeham (the upcoming Midas Man ).

This crime thriller is atmospheric and wonderful to look at, with a gripping opening act showing a wintery Baltimore shooting spree. It’s one hell of a scene, one of the better crime thriller opening sequences in recent memory.

However, if you are a fan of crime thrillers that lean toward the psychological, this is where Szifron and Wakeham’s script begins to falter. One reason is Mendelsohn’s character taking a shine to Woodley’s Eleanor, which is pure cornball. Why? Because they refuse to go into greater detail on why her personality traits can draw out the killer.

This isn’t any different than any action or science-fiction film trope. For example, in the scene from Independence Day where Jeff Goldblum says he found a hidden satellite signal. No explanation is given other than he is an expert in the field.

This perfunctory detail in the writing here sticks out like a sore thumb. Eleanor failed her psychological evaluation and has traits of a misanthrope, like the killer. Yet, the script hardly takes the time to go beyond surface-level insight for a film that claims to be akin to a movie like The Silence of the Lambs .

Let’s ignore that the police force performs similar tests and would never allow our hero to be a police officer.

Anyone with a traumatic upbringing can now track a serial gunman because she came up with a metaphor about swatting at mosquitos. The premise is so weak it cannot carry the weight of an outstanding performance by Mendelsohn and the atmosphere Szifron establishes early on.

Is the movie To Catch a Killer (2023) good or bad?

To Catch a Killer is a thriller that clumsily drops the ball and is owlish to a point, masquerading as something smarter than it is.

This is an example of a film that needs to be remade, instead of the classic, to improve on some apparent mistakes. The film is all show but has little substance.

Is To Catch a Killer (2023) worth watching?

To Catch a Killer is not worth watching at the theatre or video on demand pricing. The film squanders a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable turn by Mendelsohn.

The ending is overwrought with ominous themes that hardly scratch the surface of the psychological insight the film promises.

What did you think of the 2023 film To Catch a Killer? Comment below.

Article by Marc Miller

Marc Miller (also known as M.N. Miller) joined Ready Steady Cut in April 2018 as a Film and TV Critic, publishing over 1,600 articles on the website. Since a young age, Marc dreamed of becoming a legitimate critic and having that famous “Rotten Tomato” approved status – in 2023, he achieved that status.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 15 Recap - Who kills Dagon?

Crash Course in Romance Season 1 Episode 4 Recap - what gets Hae-e blacklisted?

This website cannot be displayed as your browser is extremely out of date.

Please update your browser to one of the following: Chrome , Firefox , Edge

To Catch a Killer (2023) (2023)

Baltimore. New Year's Eve. A talented but troubled police officer (Shailene Woodley) is recruited by the FBI's chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track down a disturbed individual terrorizing the city.

To Catch a Killer

To catch a killer: why this new thriller stands out from the rest.

Premiering on Hulu on August 19, To Catch a Killer is a different whodunit thriller you should definitely stream.

To Catch a Killer Review: Shailene Woodley Plays a Modern-Day Clarice Starling

Ben Mendolsohn and Jovan Adepo also star in a chilling and violent crime procedural that, despite some twists along the way, ultimately falls flat.

To Catch a Killer: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know

Shailene Woodley stars in To Catch a Killer, a new police thriller. Here's everything you need to know.

To Catch a Killer Trailer Stars Shailene Woodley in a Thrilling Police Story About the Nature of Evil

In order to win over audiences, To Catch a Killer has to offer us something more than just its premise.

Mardaani 2 Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon Prime Video

Mardaani 2 is a nail-biting Hindi crime-thriller movie written and directed by Gopi Puthran. The plot follows a policewoman trying to catch a vicious serial killer who commits horrific crimes against women. The film received largely positive reviews from viewers and critics.

Here’s how you can watch and stream Mardaani 2 via Amazon Prime Video.

Is Mardaani 2 available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Mardaani 2 is available to watch via streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

The story revolves around the cat-and-mouse game between SP Shivani Shivaji Roy and a deranged killer named Sunny. Roy is a highly efficient cop who’s hell-bent on catching the killer. But Sunny somehow manages to outsmart her. Critics praised the film’s thrilling storyline and performances by the main cast.

The film stars Rani Mukerji as SP Shivani Shivaji Roy, Vishal Jethwa as Sunny, and various others.

Watch Mardaani 2 by streaming via Amazon Prime Video

Mardaani 2 is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

Amazon Prime Video is one of the most popular OTT platforms wherein you can watch a wide range of movies, TV shows, and documentaries on any device as per your preference.

You can watch via Amazon Prime Video by following these steps:

• Go to Amazon Prime Video
• Select ‘Sign in’ and ‘Create your Amazon account’
• $8.99 per month for a standalone Prime Video membership

Amazon Prime is the online retailer’s paid service that provides fast shipping and exclusive sales on products, so the membership that includes both this service and Prime Video is the company’s most popular offering. However, you can also opt to subscribe to Prime Video separately.

The official film synopsis is as follows:

“Officer Shivani Shivaji Roy is stationed at Kota where she goes against a ferocious serial killer who rapes and murders women.”

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

Interview: Indianna Bell & Josiah Allen Discuss Claustrophobic Thriller You’ll Never Find Me

Ghostbusters vr game getting free frozen empire content, joker 2 to feature primarily ‘well-known’ songs, originals could be added, the absence of eden trailer: zoe saldaña leads thriller drama movie.

The post Mardaani 2 Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon Prime Video appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More .

• facebook-rs

‘Scoop’: The Story Behind One Royal Bombshell of an Interview

By David Fear

The aftermath to what can rightly be called a landmark moment in Bombshell TV has been duly discussed, dissected, and given the timeline treatment: Prince Andrew quickly stepped away from his royal duties, was stripped of his titles, and witnessed a verdict passed in the court of public opinion. How that interview came into existence in the first place is where Scoop comes in. Both an origin story and an autopsy of a compelling, televised car wreck, this dramatized look back at the BBC program making establishment-shaking history is a testament to perseverance, patience, and preparation. Mostly, however, it’s a tribute to the power of a well-connected guest booker.

Editor’s picks

The 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history, every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term, maggie rogers reimagines tate mcrae's dancey hit 'greedy' as a stripped ballad, ‘ripley' lets the talented mr. andrew scott lead an incredible remake, john mulaney walks down memory lane with david letterman on 'my next guest needs no introduction', the far right is crawling with eclipse conspiracy theories, ted cruz is getting nervous he’s going to lose his senate seat, jojo siwa is all grown up on new single 'karma', j. cole responds to kendrick lamar diss on hard-hitting ‘7 minute drill'.

The rest of Scoop aims for something like the journalistic equivalent of a heist movie, with lots of tense glances, rushing to and fro, camera keycards treated as if they were espionage-level contraband, hushed chatter about when to announce its airing, and how the royals will react. The rest is, quite literally, history. Seen more as a complement to that actual interview than a forensic breakdown of the story behind it, the movie succeeds in showing viewers that, even in this age of clickbait and quick hits, the slow and steady professionalism of real journalists attempting the Quixotic quest of practicing real journalism can still bring down a giant. You just need the perfect storm of elements. That, and a screen-ready talent booker.

'Sugar' Gives You a Sweetly Hardboiled Colin Farrell and One Sour WTF Twist

• By Alan Sepinwall

Michael J. Fox Says He's Open to Acting Again If He 'Could Figure It Out'

• Back To The Set
• By Emily Zemler

Olivia Wilde to Direct Margot Robbie-Produced 'Avengelyne' Adaptation

• Harley Quinn's New Friend
• By Tomás Mier

Halle Bailey to Sing Opposite Da'Vine Joy Randolph in Pharrell Williams, Michel Gondry Musical

• Atlantis-Bound
• By Kory Grow

Drake Bell Explains Why He Pleaded Guilty to Felony Child Endangerment

• Crimes and Court

Most Popular

Chance perdomo, 'gen v' and 'chilling adventures of sabrina' star, dies at 27, chance perdomo, 'chilling adventures of sabrina' and 'gen v' star, dies at 27, barron trump’s super-rare outing with dad donald may show why we never see them together, partynextdoor reveals nsfw 'partynextdoor 4' album cover, you might also like, michael j. fox would end acting retirement if a role came up ‘that i could put my realities’ and ‘challenges’ into: ‘if i could figure it out’, jean paul gaultier fragrances to receive corporate impact award at the center dinner at cipriani wall street, this best-selling under-desk walking pad is over $100 off on amazon today, no one is doing it like andrew scott, nc state booster club, nil collective riding final four gravy train .

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• The Beast Link to The Beast
• The Old Oak Link to The Old Oak

New TV Tonight

• Mary & George: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5
• Sugar: Season 1
• American Horror Story: Season 12
• Loot: Season 2
• Parish: Season 1
• Lopez vs Lopez: Season 2
• The Magic Prank Show With Justin Willman: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• The Gentlemen: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• Palm Royale: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Ripley Link to Ripley
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Pedro Pascal Movies and Series Ranked by Tomatometer

Dwayne Johnson Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

TV Premiere Dates 2024

New Movies & TV Shows Streaming in April 2024: What To Watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and More

• Trending on RT
• Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
• Play Movie Trivia

To Catch a Killer

1992, Crime/Drama, 1h 35m

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)

You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified..

AMCTheatres.com or AMC App New

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

Theater box office or somewhere else

By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

To catch a killer   photos.

Detective Joe Kozenczak (Michael Riley) tracks down John Wayne Gacy (Brian Dennehy), convicted in 1980 of 33 Chicago serial killings.

Rating: TV-14 (D|L)

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & thriller

Original Language: English

Director: Eric Till

Runtime: 1h 35m

Cast & Crew

Brian Dennehy

John Wayne Gacy

Michael Riley

Lieutenant Joseph 'Joe', 'Polock' Kozenczak

Margot Kidder

Rachel Grayson

City Attorney Linda Carlson

Scott Hylands

Delta Squad Sergeant Mike Paxton

David Eisner

Detective Terry Williams

John Boylan

Detective Gary Atkins

Tony De Santis

Delta Squad Detective Craig DeMarco

Mark Humphrey

Delta Squad Detective King

Gary Reineke

Delta Squad Detective Leonard "Lenny" Petrie

Tim Progosh

Delta Squad Detective Jack Morris

Danny Pawlick

Patrolman Tony Santori

Bruce Ramsay

Forensic Officer Edward "Ed" Bragg

Brenda Bazinet

Alice Pearson

Liliane Clune

Marcia Kozenczak

Toby Proctor

Michael Kozenczak

Christopher Marren

Gerry Quigley

Detective William "Bill" Walden

Nicholas Pasco

Detective Gil Barton

Michael Copeman

Police Chief Wallace "Wally" Cameron

Critic Reviews for To Catch a Killer

Audience reviews for to catch a killer.

There are no featured reviews for To Catch a Killer because the movie has not released yet ().

Movie & TV guides

Play Daily Tomato Movie Trivia

Discover What to Watch

Rotten Tomatoes Podcasts

The Little Things Movie: Who Was the Killer?

2021's The Little Things features a wild ending that leaves the audience wondering about the true identity of the killer.

Showcasing a star-studded cast led by Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto , The Little Things originally streamed exclusively on HBO Max (before the service became Max ) but was recently added to the Netflix library.

The crime thriller follows Washington's Detective Joe Deacon and Malek's Jim Baxter as they become captivated by a serial killer running rampant in Los Angeles, California.

The Little Things' Controversial Ending

Throughout The Little Things , Deacon and Baxter are trying to find a certain serial killer who the former believes could also be responsible for another murder that took place years ago (due to similar M.O.s).

After one woman is reported missing and the body of another washes up on shore, Deacon and Baxter are led to Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), who they begin to investigate.

At the end of the movie , Sparma convinces Baxter to go to the desert with him. He tells the detective that he is the murderer and can prove it by showing Baxter a body.

As Baxter digs for the deceased, Sparma teases him, even bringing up his family. Baxter ultimately snaps and hits Sparma with a shovel, killing the suspect.

Deacon (who has been trying to make his way to the desert) finally arrives, sees what has happened, and immediately starts covering up Sparma's death. Baxter continues to search for the body that Sparma mentioned but never finds anything.

It is then revealed that Deacon himself mistakenly killed someone in the past, accidentally shooting them while on the job. Poetically, this murder was covered up as well, so in a twisted way, Deacon is paying it forward by helping Baxter cover up Sparma's death (especially since it is now unknown if Sparma was the killer at all).

The film then flashes forward to Baxter sitting at home, still with a lot of guilt on his conscience. He then receives a package from Deacon with a red barrette inside. This barrette is important because it was revealed earlier in the film that one of the victims was wearing one when they went missing.

This does provide Baxter with a bit of closure since he is led to believe they found it with Sparma's belongings (indicating that Sparma was, in fact, the killer).

However, in one final twist, a brand-new box of barrettes (with the red one missing) is shown in Deacon's hands, revealing that he bought them just to make Baxter feel better and showcasing one final time that Sparma may not have been the killer.

Who Was The Killer in The Little Things?

For most of the film's runtime, all signs pointed to Sparma being the serial killer who was terrorizing Los Angeles. Many viewers likely breathed a sigh of relief when he confessed and said that he could lead Baxter to a body.

However, due to there never being a body in the desert and the fact that they never found any actual evidence of any of the missing girls with Sparma's belongings, that satisfaction was short-lived.

It is possible that Sparma was the killer but was just extremely smart and covered all his tracks. 

There are lots of coincidences throughout the runtime that point to Sparma being the killer, but no hard evidence is found that could possibly convict him of committing the crimes.

For example, the repair company that Sparma works for uses the same type of wire they found on one of the victims. It is also revealed that Sparma becomes sexually aroused when he is shown crime scene photos, and the suspect even knows one of the victims is dead, which is not public knowledge, leading the audience to question how Sparma would know.

However, The Little Things repeatedly established that Sparma liked to taunt the police and thought of the whole situation as one big game, so it is also possible that he was not the killer and just found pleasure in leading the detectives down multiple rabbit holes to throw them off.

Another (not too far-fetched) theory is that Deacon was behind the murders all along and used Sparma to cover himself up.

Deacon didn't have a spotless past, especially since he murdered someone and covered it up himself while also electing to cover up Baxter's accidental killing of Sparma. It almost makes it seem as though Deacon is a little too good at hiding bodies and evidence.

The red barrette only adds more fuel to this theory, as it is possible Deacon bought a pack of them and sent the red one to Baxter to prevent him from investigating the case further.

It is also important to note that one of the victims (Rhonda Rathbun) disappeared the first night that Deacon arrived in the city. It was revealed that the killer was someone who moved around. And considering Deacon was only coming to town to collect evidence, it seems almost too coincidental that the disappearance would occur in the same brief time.

Ultimately, the killer's true identity is left up for interpretation, a move made intentionally by writer/director John Lee Hancock.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly , Hancock stated that he "tried to build in as many things pointing to [Sparma's] guilt as points to his innocence:"

"Honestly, when I wrote it, I just tried to build in as many things pointing to his guilt as points to his innocence. I think there is an equal number of each in the script. I can make an argument either way."

He also described the ending as "ugly" and being "all about the grey," meaning that there isn't supposed to be a right or wrong answer:

"So, it's an ugly ending any way you look at it, it's all about the grey."

That being said, it could be either Sparma or Deacon. However, it is also just as likely that it could be neither of them, and that is exactly the way Hancock intended it to be.

The Little Things is streaming now on Max and Netflix.

LATEST NEWS

• Daily BO Update
• Daily Breakdown
• Hits & Flops
• All Time Grossers
• Highest Grossers
• Highest Openers
• Highest Weekend
• Best of Overseas
• Hollywood Highest
• Fact-o-meter
• Entertainment News
• Bollywood News
• Television & Web
• Fashion & Lifestyle
• Bigg Boss 17
• Hollywood News
• What To Watch
• Bollywood Movie Reviews
• Hollywood Movie Reviews
• All South Movie Reviews
• Tamil Movie Reviews
• Telugu Movie Reviews
• Kannada Movie Reviews
• Malayalam Movie Reviews
• Marathi Movie Reviews
• Web Series Reviews
• Music Reviews
• Box Office Reviews
• Trailer Reviews
• BO Filmometer
• Stars’ Power Index
• Directors’ Power Index
• 100 Crore Club
• Worldwide 200 Crores+
• Profitable Films
• Recommended Movies
• Upcoming Movies
• Released Movies
• Web Stories
• About Koimoi

Home » Reviews » Hollywood Movie Reviews

Love Lies Bleeding Movie Review: Kristen Stewart & Katy O’Brian Astound You With Their Crazy, Wild & Killer Love!

What makes love lies bleeding a thrilling watch is its unpredictable nature and the inclusion of subtle absurdity..

Star Cast: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov

Director: Rose Glass

What’s Good: The performances, the love story and the oddity in narrative

What’s Bad: That it will be uncensored for the audience.

Loo Break: If extreme graphic scenes disturb you, run to the washroom!

Watch or Not?: Yes

Language: English

Available On: Theatrical release

Runtime: 104 Minutes

In 1989, gym manager Lou, played by Kristen Stewart, meets Jackie, a budding bodybuilder, played by Katie O’Brian. Their love grows, and they can’t get enough of each other. However, things go downhill as Lou and Jackie resort to extreme measures in their conflicts, both for and against one another.

Love Lies Bleeding Movie Review: Script Analysis

Rose Glass and Weronika Tofilska have penned an eccentric love story that often startles you. The passionate romance and series of unfortunate and violent events keep you intrigued. You would think this queer love story would make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, after seeing the upbeat beginning of Lou and Jackie’s romance. However, you’re instead treated to plenty of WTF moments caused by external factors, such as Lou Sr.’s abusive brother-in-law and Godfather-style father Lou.

Lou, played by Kristen Stewart, is utterly charmed by Jackie as she casually flexes her muscles. Katy O’Brian is really stunning, whether she’s working out or is in a violent rage. Lou represents us viewers, who are in disbelief and trying to process the chaos happening on screen. At the press screening, we got to see the uncensored version, which indeed strengthens the storytelling.

For such an odd story of twisted love, every scene—from the most intimate scenes to the most explicit ones involving blood—leaves an unforgettable impression. What makes Love Lies Bleeding a thrilling watch is its unpredictable nature and the inclusion of subtle absurdity. This indicates that the creators were willing to take a huge risk to give us a tale in which insanity has no limits.

Love Lies Bleeding Movie Review: Star Performance

Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Lou is really compelling. Being the sole observer of all the bizarre events unfolding around her forces her to portray a wide range of emotions. Kristen does an excellent job juggling the same – whether it’s showing her intense love for Jackie and her willingness to do anything to save her or the dilemma and courage required her to stand up to her dad. Muscles, biceps, crushing veins, fantasies, and a deadly fit mesmerise you as Katy O’Brian enters the frame. Katy perfectly portrays Jackie’s bewildering and erratic personality. She packs such powerful punches that sometimes you wonder if she’s even a human!

The rest of the cast does a brilliant job, too.

Love Lies Bleeding Movie Review: Direction, Music

A queer love story, between two women had all the chances of becoming explicitly racy and provocative in different lenses. But Rose Glass’ female gaze makes Lou and Jackie look like a normal couple in love; sometimes adorable, impulsive, and a bit toxic. As I mentioned above, the risk factor of doing something unconventional and unexpected makes the movie such an exciting watch. Even in a bit of absurdity, there’s something to admire. But we are reminded in the end that everything is fair in love, even if it means going to war against your own people!

The songs used in the movie really amp up the entire mood of this romantic thriller.

Love Lies Bleeding Movie Review: The Last Word

Love Lies Bleeding is an incredibly passionate, insane, and chaotic love story. The crazy, wild and killer lovers astound you with their actions and devotion to each other. It’s a tale where the lovers are willing to sacrifice everything for one another, even if it means going on a murder spree. After all, who always wants to be selfless and give up the love they have? If you’re looking for an intense and crazy romantic story, this is for you.

Three and a half stars!

Love Lies Bleeding Trailer

Love Lies Bleeding releases on 05th April, 2024.

Share with us your experience of watching Love Lies Bleeding.

For more recommendations, read our Kung Fu Panda 4 Movie Review here .

Must Read: Joker: Folie à Deux: Cast, Trailer, Release Date & More; Here’s All We Know About This Joaquin Phoenix & Lady Gaga Led DC Film!

Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Google News

RELATED ARTICLES

When Shah Rukh Khan Was Annoyed With Comparisons With Sourav Ganguly & Said, “It’s Not Only Unfair To Me…”

“Shah Rukh Khan Vents Out His Anger At Me”: Juhi Chawla To Now Avoid Watching KKR Matches With SRK At IPL 2024?

Yeh Meri Family Season 3 Review: Majorly Lacks the 90s Magic Despite Some Endearing Moments

Check this out.

Crew At The Worldwide Box Office (After 3 Days): All Set...

Crew Box Office Collection Day 2 (Early Trends): Score In Double...

Kapil Sharma Takes A Funny Dig At His Short Role In...

Will Smith Continues To Experience Fallout From The Oscars Slap Incident

Tapsee Pannu & Mathias Boe’s Viral Wedding Video: Actress Gets Hailed...

Maidaan Final Trailer Review: Ajay Devgn Is Gearing Up For A...

Don't miss.

Isha Ambani’s 835 Crore Net Worth To Jump As Jennifer Lopez...

MonsterVerse Movies Ranked As Per Budget: Godzilla x Kong: The New...

Kabir Khan Reveals Shah Rukh Khan Didn’t Charge Anything For The...

Woh Bhi Din The Movie Review: Interesting Theme Ruffled By Languid Narration

Maidaan Final Trailer Review: Ajay Devgn Is Gearing Up For A ‘Kaante Ki Takkar’ At The Box Office As He Promises To Bring The...

• Privacy Policy

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

The 15 best serial killer shows streaming on Netflix right now

As the streamer corners the market on murder content, here are the series worth your time.

Courtesy of Netflix (3)

Netflix has made a cottage industry out of serial killer content but how do you weed out the notable installments from the bunk? EW has compiled the very best of Netflix serial killer shows, including gripping documentaries and a handful of well-articulated narratives.

For some reason, we feel an inextricable pull to understand the impulses of society’s worst subjects, and Netflix has profiled just about every shade of serial killer content you could imagine. Join Entertainment Weekly as we run down the 15 best serial killer shows on Netflix right now.

The Chestnut Man (2021)

Nikolaj Thaning Rentzmann/Netflix

In the great tradition of nihilistic Danish mystery novels comes this delightfully spooky, occasionally transcendent twist on the successful formula. A woman is found brutally murdered on a playground with a bizarre totem constructed of chestnuts left next to her body. Solving the case, which is almost immediately tied to the missing child of a prominent politician, falls to detective Naia Thulin (Danica Ćurčič) and her partner, Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). Cue ruminative looks from rain-dotted windows and some properly toe-curling violence.

Where to watch The Chestnut Man : Netflix

Cast: Danica Ćurčič, David Dencik, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Iben Dorner

The Confession Killer (2019)

Netflix/Courtesy Everett

One of Netflix’s twistiest serial killer shows is this fascinating (though exhausting) five-part docuseries about Henry Lee Lucas, who confessed to hundreds of murders that he may or may not have committed. Lucas was tied to few or none of the crimes through physical evidence but was able to parrot sufficient details of the attacks to convince investigators and victims’ families that he was to blame. At times you may worry The Confession Killer is attempting to exonerate Lucas or make him into some sort of folk victim, but in fact, the show turns the mirror rather successfully on the audience.

Where to watch The Confession Killer : Netflix

Related content: The 25 best serial killer documentaries and docuseries

Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (2021)

Joe Berlinger has made a career out of Netflix serial killer content, having helmed both The Ted Bundy Tapes and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile , the narrative twist on Bundy’s crimes. He also directed the first Crime Scene installment, about the unfortunate case of Elisa Lam and the Cecil Hotel.

The Times Square Killer is much better than that effort, primarily because it involves hard facts over errant speculation. This three-part docuseries tells the story of New York City’s “Torso Killer,” who carved a bloody swatch across midtown Manhattan in the 1970s.

There’s a satisfying balance struck here between the facts of a little-known murder spree and respectful portraits of the victims, many of whom came from under-served communities and were only discovered to be missing when their family members took charge of the investigation.

Where to watch Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer : Netflix

Related content: If you love true crime, stream these shows and docs

Dirty John (2018–2020)

This positively gripping anthology series based its first season (the only one worth your time) on the Wondery podcast of the same name. Connie Britton stars as a successful designer who falls for John Meehan ( Eric Bana ), a man who claims to be a doctor but harbors dark secrets. What follows is compulsively watchable television, with nice twists on the genre’s typical trappings that keep viewers on their toes despite its nominally based-on-true-events status.

Where to watch Dirty John : Netflix

Cast: Connie Britton , Eric Bana , Juno Temple, Julia Garner

A Killer Paradox (2024)

SONG KYOUNG SUB/Netflix

This surprisingly white-knuckle South Korean thriller, based on an animated web series, follows Lee Tang (Choi Woo-shik), a convenience store worker who accidentally murders a serial killer in a holdup gone wrong. As a hard-nosed detective (Son Suk-ku) continues his search for the deceased slasher, Tang finds he has quite a knack for knocking off bad guys.

While the plot never truly acquits itself of comparisons to Dexter and I Saw the Devil , it’s still a well-constructed, devious little thriller that benefits from sharp writing and a willingness to wade into tricky territory. It’s the sort of show you could see really beginning to fly in its second season, if it’s allowed one.

Where to watch A Killer Paradox : Netflix

Cast: Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-joon, Hyun Bong-sik

Related content: The 25 best Netflix mystery movies

Mindhunter (2017–2019)

Patrick Harbron/Netflix

David Fincher ’s eerily credible procedural follows FBI agents Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) and Holden Ford ( Jonathan Groff ), who develop the modern method of profiling serial killers by conducting interviews with some of the most fearsome criminals in the annals of history, including Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) and Dennis Rader (Sonny Valicenti).

Mindhunter is, in many ways, the perfect distillation of Fincher’s detailed approach to cinema and his fixation on the minds of murderers. It plays as a welcome follow-up to his 2007 masterpiece, Zodiac , while offering its own singular approach to the genre.

Where to watch Mindhunter : Netflix

EW grade: N/A ( read the review )

Cast: Holt McCallany, Jonathan Groff, Anna Torv, Cameron Britton, Hannah Gross

Related content: Manson speaks: Mindhunter actor on playing the cult leader again in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Night Stalker: The Hunt For a Serial Killer (2021)

This straightforward, horrifying docuseries gives an admirable just-the-facts recitation of Richard Ramirez, surely one of the most fearsome serial killers in history. It’s one of Netflix’s most blunt docuseries, and there’s little enhancement or drama here, as it’s entirely unneeded. Ramirez’s crimes read like a depraved horror novel. His more or less accidental ability to elude police (until he couldn’t) was so incredible that, if not for the fact that it actually happened, they would defy credulity.

Where to watch Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer : Netflix

Related content: Night Stalker director Tiller Russell on unraveling Richard Ramirez’s untold stories

The Ripper (2020)

Looking across the Atlantic, this four-part docuseries examines the crimes of Peter Sutcliffe, a.k.a. “The Yorkshire Ripper,” who murdered 13 women between 1975 and 1980 in England. It's an exhaustive, well-told account of Sutcliffe’s terror reign, which isn’t particularly well-known stateside. This series also thoughtfully examines how the police response might’ve been different if his victims were male.

Where to watch The Ripper : Netflix

Related content: The 27 best true crime documentaries on Netflix

The Serpent (2021)

BBC/Mammoth Screen

This underseen series dramatizes the account of Charles "the Serpent" Sobhraj, a serial killer who drugged and murdered young backpackers in Thailand circa 1975 and 1976. The brilliant Tahar Rahim (recently a villain in the not-so-brilliant Madame Web ) stars as Sobhraj, bringing a dose of empathy to the monster without justifying his crimes. Billy Howle plays a Dutch official who begins investigating several of his countrymen’s disappearances, leading him into the murderer’s orbit.

Originally produced for the BBC, The Serpent takes time to unwind itself but never loosens its grip on your attention. Meanwhile, Rahim gives a highly credible performance of a serial killer and all-around creep; he’s charming, but not that charming, unsettling and shifty, but not outrightly suspicious . His performance, much like the show, is wonderfully calibrated.

Where to watch The Serpent : Netflix

Cast: Tahar Rahim, Billy Howle, Jenna Coleman, Ellie Bamber, Fabien Frankel

Related content: The 20 best TV shows based on a true story

The Sinner (2017–2021)

The Sinner is another reliable anthology thriller, with the first stellar season based on German mystery novelist Petra Hammesfahr’s novel about homicide detective Harry Ambrose ( Bill Pullman ). All four seasons concern Ambrose as he attempts to solve murders that are more complicated than they initially appear.

Each season is nicely old-fashioned, with Pullman making for a grounding guide through all this mayhem. As the series goes on, it adopts the pleasantly antiquated feel of something like Prime Suspect , where we follow a single detective on an understated journey without the noise of multiple side characters or killing-of-the-week distractions.

Where to watch The Sinner : Netflix

Cast: Bill Pullman, Jessica Biel , Christopher Abbott , Carrie Coon , Tracy Letts , 

Related content: The Sinner finale: That shocking ending explained

Slasher (2016–present)

Cole Burston/Shudder

As with any slasher series — or, in this case, anthology — some installments are better than others. Across its five seasons and counting, Slasher has covered tried-and-true genre territory and delved (at times less successfully) into more experimental fare.

Season 1, one of the best, follows a series of vicious present-day copycat murders after an ‘80s Halloween massacre. Then there’s season three, which feels like one of those particularly cruel straight-to-video cheapies. The most recent season, about a 19th-century serial killer, served as a smart reset for the series after an equally entertaining, though less horror-centric, entry in which David Cronenberg plays the patriarch of a very John Waters -esque family.

Slasher is more straight-faced and restrained than the similarly structured American Horror Story , calling back to the genre’s heyday with a bit more realism and genuine reverence. 

Where to watch Slasher : Netflix

Cast: Paula Brancati, Christopher Jacot, Katie McGrath, Brandon Jay McLaren, David Cronenberg

Related content: David Cronenberg on his role in Slasher: Flesh & Blood

Somebody (2022)

Nathan K. H. Jang/Netflix

Another remarkably creepy South Korean chiller, Somebody follows Kim Sum (Kang Hye-rim), a developer for the titular dating app who finds herself drawn into a dangerous web after a user is murdered. Kim sets out to reveal the slasher’s identity, who might be stalking her, with the help of her friend, detective Gi-eun (Kim Su-yeon). A more thoughtful addition to the well-trod K-thriller genre, Somebody benefits most from the strong acting of its leads and a rather haunting, peculiar visual sense.

Where to watch Somebody : Netflix

Cast: Kang Hye-rim, Kim Su-yeon, Kim Young-kwang, Kim Yong-ji, Kim Soo Yeon

Somewhere Between (2017)

Eike Schroter / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty 

This single-season wonder pleasingly recalls weekly network thrillers of the late ‘90s and early-aughts with its story of San Francisco news producer Laura Price ( Paula Patton ), who is given a chance to prevent her young daughter’s murder when she travels back in time. Now, Laura has seven days to identify the killer and reverse the course of fate.

Originally aired on ABC, this twisty, unexpectedly spiky procedural has a real sense of place (despite being shot in Vancouver) and a supremely chilly atmosphere. Patton is always wonderful, and here she’s joined by Devon Sawa in an energetic, likable performance as an ex-cop reeling after the murder of his fiancée.

It’s a shame the show never got a second season, as it’s practically begging for the treatment Netflix gave You : pulling it from a network and sexing it up with an R-rating. As it is, these 10 episodes play pretty perfectly as a single story.

Where to watch Somewhere Between : Netflix

Cast: Paula Patton, Devon Sawa, JR Bourne, Aria Birch, Catherine Barroll

Related content: The 23 best time travel movies of all time

The Watcher (2022–present)

Courtesy Of Netflix

Of course, being a Ryan Murphy creation, this fictionalized account of a bizarre case in upstate New York is one very full sink. It stars Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale as a testy married couple battling with independent kids, a whacked-out realtor ( Jennifer Coolidge ), nosy neighbors ( Mia Farrow ), and spooky notes from someone who really, really wants them to leave their new estate.

One of the joys of a Murphy production is watching all of the spinning plates and wondering which will topple first, but this one actually keeps most of them airborne throughout the final episode. No one does the blend of crime and soap quite like Murphy, and his ability to goad some of our generation’s best actors into increasingly wide-eyed theatrics remains unparalleled.

Where to watch The Watcher : Netflix

Cast: Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Isabel Gravitt, Mia Farrow, Jennifer Coolidge

Related content: Naomi Watts breaks down THAT final scene in The Watcher

You (2018–2024)

A blessedly perverse spin on both CW shows and classic psycho-thrillers, You confidently and effortlessly reinvents itself throughout four seasons. It follows bookstore employee and serial killer Joe Goldberg ( Penn Badgley ), who develops an obsession with Guinevere (Elizabeth Lail) and wiggles his way into her friend group.

You is wonderfully knowing and often surprising, never content to milk one narrative thread for too long. As the later seasons segue into a sort of demented serial killer version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith , the show finds its satirical feet.

Where to watch You : Netflix

EW grade: B+ ( read the review )

Cast: Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Jenna Ortega , Victoria Pedretti, Dylan Arnold

Related content: You star Penn Badgley on the season 4 scene that almost didn't make the final cut

Related Articles

Filed under:

Godzilla x Kong isn’t a movie, it’s a pro wrestling match

Less of a story, more of an event

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Godzilla x Kong isn’t a movie, it’s a pro wrestling match

I’m going to level with you: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire might be the stupidest movie I’ve ever seen. Not the worst movie (that would be Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 ), but very possibly the most absurd. I’m ashamed to tell my mother I saw it, for fear of a lecture about how she did not raise a dummy, and did not break her back putting me through school so I could sit through the giant-monkey-and-lizard movie, for money. But unfortunately for her (love you, Mom) she did put me through school to watch the giant-monkey-and-lizard movie, for money. So I did watch the stupid thing. And you know what? I’d do it again.

Godzilla x Kong (yes, it’s styled like that, like a streetwear collab) is beyond “good” or “bad” or “movies.” It’s an arena show, a pro wrestler shouting in the squared circle, thumping their chest and raising the jumbotron hype meter before doing their signature move. Through brutally efficient pacing that minimizes what the script doesn’t care about (people, mostly) and maximizes what it does (giant monsters doing wrestling moves), it constantly eschews connection in favor of escalation. It’s an achievement in absurd spectacle, a comically silly way to spend $135 million. I hope Warner Bros. keeps burning money this way.

This is the fifth movie in the MonsterVerse franchise , but The New Empire gets viewers up to speed immediately. The world has gotten weird since the events of 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong . The Earth? She’s hollow, hiding an entire ecosystem of massive monsters. King Kong lives there now, and he’s lonely, longing for the company of other giant apes. Godzilla has become something of a roving protector of the planet, roaming the surface to destructively take on other, more destructive monsters (dubbed “Titans”), then pausing for naps in the Colosseum.

Godzilla still can’t stand Kong, but with Kong inside the Hollow Earth and Godzilla ruling its surface, a strange sort of balance is reached.

So Godzilla x Kong uses incredibly contrived means to throw that balance into peril, bouncing between three parallel narrative tracks. (Calling them “stories” feels like a stretch.)

• Something has Godzilla in a strange mood, causing him to travel the globe in search of massive amounts of radiation to power him up.
• Kong, in Hollow Earth, searches for apes like him and finds a hidden enclave under the iron grip of another ape called Skar, who has designs on escaping to dominate the surface world.
• A small band of humans led by Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) launches an expedition into Hollow Earth to find the source of psychic visions from Jia (Kaylee Hottle), Andrews’ adopted daughter and Kong’s only human friend.

Spending much more time on The New Empire ’s plot feels farcical, as the script, credited to Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater, really does not dwell on any of these beats. The narrative is functional, and barely so, with characters blurting exposition and suddenly finding whatever inspiration is necessary for the next plot beat. The monsters are the point here, and director Adam Wingard really takes his time with them. Particularly Kong — the only character in the movie who has a real, honest-to-Ghidorah arc.

Kong gets to have so many experiences in this film. He has his first dental procedure, courtesy of an absolutely loony Dan Stevens as a Titan vet named Trapper. He befriends a tiny (for him) ape with an attitude. He finds community; he patches things up with a former nemesis. It’s quite touching, really, though it’s all very loud.

After the bombastic yet pretty traditional Godzilla vs. Kong , Wingard’s sequel really feels like he’s letting its hair down, dropping any and all pretense that his movies are coming from the same place as Gareth Edwards’ more grounded, awestruck 2014 Godzilla . In some ways, this is clarifying. Instead of occupying the wobbly middle ground between disaster epic and environmental fable, like previous films in this series, Wingard’s new approach is simple. With The New Empire , he asks: Do you, on a deep spiritual level, need to see Godzilla suplex King Kong?

At this juncture, Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse has become the anti-cinematic universe: It isn’t building to anything, it’s just kinda screwing around. Sure, there is an accumulation of lore and characters, a roughly traceable history of this alternate Earth where monsters exist among us, but it’s all trivia, and beside the point.

Perhaps there was a moment early on when the franchise producers were attempting to cobble together a grand narrative. But with Wingard’s twin team-up movies, the franchise is now something more like improv, a yes - and take on kaiju battles. Yes, Godzilla and Kong exist in the same world, and the Earth is hollow and full of monsters, and there’s an ancient threat and indigenous people down there, and Godzilla and Kong will put aside their differences to combat it.

Part of what makes The New Empire ’s foolish bombast so palatable, even desirable, is that Wingard and his many collaborators — especially the massive number of digital artists whose work comprises the bulk of the film — have made this film during a Godzilla boom. It’s easier to accept its WrestleMania-style antics when the gripping drama of Godzilla Minus One is still in the rearview, and Apple TV Plus’ Monarch: Legacy of Monsters can shore up the human side of things that the MonsterVerse movies are wholly uninterested in.

Whether by design or by accident, The New Empire has taken on the tonal whiplash and inventive glee that the original Japanese Godzilla films became known for. Godzilla x Kong is a true successor to the late-Showa era of Toho’s classic films, a big silly throwdown that subs out rubber suits in favor of Hollywood pixels, upping the scale considerably. (Unfortunately, this sacrifices visual clarity and style — The New Empire ’s creatures do incredible things, but unlike in Godzilla vs. Kong , they are not presented in memorable ways.) Wingard’s weakest points come when he hews to blockbuster convention — but those moments are also the funniest ones.

It is deeply amusing, seeing these giant animated nonverbal monsters bellowing through the major plot beats of many big franchise blockbusters. It says something, I think, about how silly they are, how empty of meaning. And how, maybe, the only way they can be any good is if they abandon all pretense at storytelling, and just play to the stands.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opens in theaters on March 29.

Loading comments...

570 - THE DETAILS That Make a Turkey Killer with Joe Hamm

• Podcast Episode

Add a plot in your language

User reviews

• April 1, 2024 (United Kingdom)
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 46 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed