The Clovehitch Killer

I started watching figuring I had it all figured out in the first half hour. It seemed painfully predictable. Well, it wasn't. I think most people will find it worth watching. Just be patient.

I wanted to like "The Clovehitch Killer" more than I did. Many ingredients are there for an interesting movie. I think the direction is the key flaw here. It doesn't take its premise as far as it should have, to really make you feel something. It seems to approach some fairly uncomfortable viewing, but never make good on it.

Dylan McDermott, the centre of the movie, is really its best part. His performance is chilling and confounding. The character of his son and his snooty gal pal don't really do enough. The investigate the titular killer, but you don't see enough of how they really think and feel. Nor is there enough of a look in from the mother character, who, doubtless, would have a lot of pain.

Family, in most cases, is a web of secrets and lies. This movie could have been about more than a killer who's also a family man. It could have been painfully relatable. It just isn't.

This was a good movie, but not an easy watch. To avoid any spoiler I am just going to point out the fact that this movie puts you deeply in questioning, in a kind of disturbing way. And that's good. It's not your typical serial killer story here, really it's more like " how would you sort out this high level of sickness... because even as a watcher, well you witnessed it and have to live with it !. This is slow paced, just enough to build this uneasy tension. Thumbs up to the camera work, we get some real artistic framing and lightning here. And also, most importantly, let applause the fantastic acting of the father and son characters. You'll find yourself diving in this with them after just a few minutes. A solid 8 for me. Warning : You may need a drink after this.

People should have to state their age group when posting comments here. I'm in the 50+ group and loved the slow burning tension of this movie. Most teenagers will post things like ''Boooooooring'' and I understand. No gunfights, no blood and gore, no supernatural mumbo jumbo, no superheroes. Just a glimpse inside the minds of ordinary people living extraordinary events.

Really more of a psychological suspense than a killer-thriller.

Excellent cast, some additional intensity would've been good here and there, but I respect the director's vision of this story.

So many bad movies out there... this is not one of them.

I quite liked this film...the two young leads seem like good actors.good story.only real criticism is the ending.....could have been better