To Catch A Killer is a riveting crime thriller. It compels you to think about the prevalent gun culture in the society. In it, a killer with a troubled mind goes on a mindless killing of people.
This film is by the writer and director Damián David Szifron of the Oscar Award-nominated movie “Wild Tales“. We reviewed that film in the first week of May 2023 in our Magazine.
Synopsis of the ‘To Catch A Killer’ (2023) movie
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 launched a nationwide manhunt, they were thwarted at every turn by the individual’s unprecedented behaviour.
Given her tortured psyche, Eleanor may be the only person who can understand the mind of their assailant and bring him to justice.
{Spoilers Free} review of the ‘To Catch A Killer’ (2023) movie
The introduction
We all have read and heard about the prevalent gun culture in the USA. Also about the fact that Consumerism is the king in the Capitalist society of America. Hence, the demand for meats, guns, urbanisation, etc. must be met by their suppliers. Against, this kind of backdrop, its writer has woven a crime thriller.
What issues does this film talk about?
Thus, we can see that by using its characters, the film raises a few pertinent and problematic questions about contemporary American society. It visualizes the morality, philosophy, economic model, politics and bureaucratic systems. various other aspects of the American society.
The basic story of the film
In this particular film, an individual with a troubled mind holds a deadly gun and decides to wreak havoc in the city of Baltimore in this action flick. As the FBI and the local police authorities scramble to search for the nameless and faceless executioner – the highly skilled misanthrope remains elusive. Only one intelligent police officer Eleanor Falco (Shailene Woodley) has any sort of idea to identify and catch the killer.
So, what we liked and disliked in this film
We loved the first forty-five minutes of this movie very much. But in the second half of the almost two-hour-long film. Our interest waned, as it headed towards its suspenseful ending, Our love was turned into the like. It could not sustain our interest. Maybe because of its loose and lengthy script. Perhaps it tried to tackle far too many issues plaguing modern American society. Maybe a focused approach could have helped to tighten its screenplay.
Despite its shortcomings, we believe, it is a good movie. It explores the challenges of carrying out investigative procedures in the bureaucratic set-up. Especially, when it includes the FBI as well as the local police department. Also, we must honestly admit that the good acting from Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn kept its perplexing mystery alive, as their team sought to catch an anonymous (and faceless) killer.
The conclusion
We have seen some of the dreadful movies released this year, that we did not feel like reviewing because of the questionable quality of their content. However, we reiterate that ‘To Catch A Killer’ is one of the good and thoughtful crime thriller films in the first half of the year. It is a watchable movie.
Ratings of the ‘To Catch A Killer’ (2023) movie
| FM’s rating | 3.55/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 50% Tomatometer & 73% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus / Rotten Tomatoes | Damián David Szifron’s stylish direction and fine performances bolster this film’s case, but a derivative script throws this thriller off course. |
Spoilers Alert – key lines from the ‘To Catch A Killer’ (2023) movie
Focus on the key lines about FBI/US Bureaucracy in this film
Eleanor: Why did you sign that memo? Lammark: You can't fight every battle. Have to choose the ones you can win. Eleanor: Yeah, but when you sign, you're a part of the game. Lammark: And when you don't, they replace you. The only decision you're making is whether to be buried or burned.
Focus on the key lines about Gay marriage in this film
Eleanor: How long have you been married? Lammark: Ever since we were allowed.
Poster of the ‘To Catch A Killer’ (2023) movie
Key details about the ‘To Catch A Killer’ (2023) movie
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Original title | Misanthrope (means a person who hates or avoids other people) |
| Released | April – May 2023 |
| Writer | Damián David Szifron, Jonathan Wakeham |
| Director | Damián David Szifron |
| Cast | Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo, Ralph Ineson, etc. |
Trailer of the ‘To Catch A Killer’ (2023) movie
Focus on the bonus info. about its lead actress Shailene Woodley
American actress and environmental activist Shailene Woodley has been taking up the grave issues affecting the indigenous Native American people, for instance, in 2016 she stood with the Water Protectors at Standing Rock and was jailed for her activism there. The young actress is also known for popular movies like – The Descendants (2011), The Spectacular Now (2013), Divergent (2014) & The Fault In Our Stars (2014), and The Last Letter from Your Lover (2021); besides the well-known series like the Big Little Lies (2017-2019).
Featured Image and poster: To Catch A Killer movie | Sky Cinema.
