Murderous Intent (British Thriller)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B- Extras: C Film: C
Despite a
fine performance by Toni Collette, Murderous
Intent (2006) is a British thriller that remains consistent throughout, but
never really takes off. Collette plays a
police psychologist investigating why and how friends of a seemingly innocent
young man (Eddie Redmayne) keep dying in accidents. Of course, there is something crazier at work
and she wants to believe he is innocent and he tells her so, but he has a
friend and their relationship (creepy and otherwise) might be the key to
figuring out what is really going on.
Better
than most formula police procedurals on TV, British or U.S., the film still
never becomes the suspense-filled thriller it had the potential to be. Part of the problem is in the screenplay of
writer/director Gregory J. Read, who settles for things before they reach their
conclusion. Add the formula he still
cannot get away from and you get good performances in a so-so film. It is almost worth a look.
The anamorphically
enhance 1.85 X 1 image has some definition, color and detail issues, but it
looks fine for a thriller that wants to be visually dark at times. At least Director of Photography Nigel Bluck
does not outright gut the color. The Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix is lively and well-recorded, including Carlo Giacco’s decent
score. Extras include Giacco and Read
together on an audio commentary track and a making of featurette.
- Nicholas Sheffo
