Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (2019)

I've been really looking forward to seeing Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile because serial killers have always fascinated me and Efron's performance received a lot of praises from critics.

The film is based on Elizabeth Kendall’s memoir The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy and follows Ted Bundy (Zac Efron) mainly during the 1970s. The first part focuses on his relationship with former girlfriend Liz Kloepfer (Lily Collins), the second on his trails as he’s charged with multiple first-degree murders.

Zodiac (2007)

Genre

Mystery | Thriller

Director

David Fincher

Country

USA

Cast

Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas, Donal Logue, John Carroll Lynch, Dermot Mulroney, Philip Baker Hall, Chloe Sevigny, John Getz, John Terry, Adam Goldberg, David Lee Smith

Storyline

Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a cartoonist working for the San Francisco Chronicle, starts investigating a serial killer known as Zodiac and soon becomes obsessed with the case. 

Opinion

David Fincher's "Seven" is one of my favourite films. I love everything about it. And I did go into this film expecting something like that. What I found myself watching was something completely different. But different doesn't always mean bad, and this is the case.

Although it is more of an investigative film than a thriller, "Zodiac" is a very interesting, engaging and intricate mystery film that is also surprisingly suspenseful. And the film's length - two and a half hours - isn't too long.

Based on a true story about a serial killer in California during the 1960s and 1970s, who named himself Zodiac - and of whom I have never heard of before, probably because I wasn't born yet and I don't live in the US -, the story hooks the viewer right from the beginning. The most appropriate words would be, it is addictive.

What's the great thing about it? Well, instead of focusing on the serial killer, who is arguably a very interesting person to analyze, the story is focused on the people that are trying to catch him. And it is so interesting because the investigation is not only viewed through the eyes of the police - as usually happens -, but through those of journalists as well. It is intriguing because, while for the police the investigation is just part of their jobs, for the journalists it is more of a challenge. Like solving a puzzle. By the way, the characters are so complex, credible and feels so real, it is refreshing.

The other great thing about "Zodiac" is that Fincher doesn't spend time exploring the psychological reasons leading each character to become obsessed with the killer; rather he invites the viewer to observe and make up his own mind to why the characters do what they do. I have a complain though, he should have explored more Robert Downey Jr.'s character obsession.

At last but not least, the cast. Jake Gyllenhaal does a fantastic job as cartoonist, wannabe detective Robert Graysmith, and truly becomes his character. The other stand out performances comes from Robert Downey Jr. as reporter Paul Avery and Mark Ruffalo as SFPD detective David Toschi.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Genre

Drama | Thriller

Director

Jonathan Demme

Country

USA

Cast

Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Diane Baker, Kasi Lemmons, Frankie Faison, Tracey Walter, Charles Napier, Danny Darst, Alex Coleman, Dan Butler, Paul Lazar, Ron Vawter, Roger Corman, Chris Isaak, Harry Northup, Don Brockett, Masha Skorobogatov

Storyline

Young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer (Anthony Hopkins) to receive his help to catch another serial killer (Ted Levine) known as Buffalo Bill.

Opinion

I saw this film for the first time something like five years ago. I remembered the story and that I liked it, but I didn't remember it was this good. Actually good isn't enough. "The Silence of the Lambs" is the ultimate psychological thriller.

The plot could simply be told as police on the hunt for a serial killer, because that's exactly what's going on in the film - and in tons of other films of the same genre. The difference is the pacing. It is slow which is totally unusual in thriller, and it's mixed with some very tense scenes, therefore creating an incredible suspense.

Jonathan Demme crafted a flawless film featuring musics that create dark and gloomy atmospheres, cool colours, a detached photography and tons of close-ups that spectacularly convey to the viewer the characters' feelings.

Just like Michael Mann's "Manhunter", "The Silence of the Lambs" also is a profound character study of a brutal, revolting killer that is also an intelligent and charming man. A manipulative psychopath that messes with people's minds like nobody else.

And then there is the acting. Oh boy it is good. Jodie Foster is fantastic as Clarice Starling, and manages to successfully portray the young FBI trainee both as a fragile woman and a woman of steel. Anthony Hopkins is so disturbing as Lecter. Nobody else could have been cast for the role, and nobody else could have killed it like he did - just to make sure we are on the same page, that last part isn't literal. Moving on, his performance is so good, it's almost impossible to keep your eyes off him. And Ted Levine delivers a fantastic performance as the sick, twisted Buffalo Bill.

The Bone Collector (1999)

Genre

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Director

Phillip Noyce

Country

USA | Canada

Cast

Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker, Mike McGlone, Luis Guzmán, John Benjamin Hickey, Bobby Cannavale, Ed O'Neil, Leland Orser

Plot

When a badly mutilated corpse is discovered by policewoman Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie), quadriplegic ex-homicide detective Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) is asked to investigate the case. At first he refuses, but when he takes a close look at the evidence, he is intrigued and tries to track down the serial killer with the help of the young policewoman.

Opinion

The Bone Collector is a way too much pretentious film that fails pretty much on everything. 

Looks like the film is trying to imitate Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window - in this case Denzel Washington plays James Stewart, and Angelina Jolie plays Grace Kelly - and, at the same time, David Fincher's Seven. The result is a too weak plot and some ridiculous parts. 

A huge issue - or mistake - with this film is the serial killer. As I am in the process of writing a mystery novel, I learned that there are several things the story must have to be good. One of those things - the most important in my opinion - is being able to lead the audience into finding out who the killer is. This film totally fails in that. I would have bet the killer was a cop - one in particular but I won't spoiler - but at the end is just some guy barely shown in the film with a weak motive. 

The fighting scene is the queen of ridiculousness: the serial killer, which is so smart to elaborate perfect murders, can't beat a quadriplegic man.

Denzel Washington does a very good job as the paralyzed cop. Unfortunately I can't say the same thing about Angelina Jolie: she looks bored the whole time. The supporting cast helps a lot, with great performance from Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker and Ed O'Neil.

Quotes

Lincoln Rhyme: Destiny is what we make it.