A Killer Within

I was looking forward to an above average film when I sat down to watch this. Sean Young and perhaps C. Thomas Howell was to assure that. So I'm writing this to warn off anyone which will think the same as me - thinking this is worthwhile to watch.

But I could immediately see that the good idea in this film, and what could have been a good plot, was ruined by bad directing and bad acting.

This could have made an interesting film in the hands of a better director. The script is far from flawless, but still I think it could have been saved. But all the actors show that they don't believe in the project. Even the little kid is really bad. There's not a single actor acting worth watching here. Sean Young is theatrical, C. Thomas Howell is stoic, and the police looks like they have been taken in from the streets. Unbelievably enough, even the extras here are bad. Like the woman in the neighboring table at the restaurant! I haven't seen anything like it!

It's a shame money has been spent on this, but I give it a 2 out of 10 for the idea. Such a pity good ideas can be spent this way!

If this is American independent film-making, let me see any film any day before this!

A tight plot and solid performances set this film above the standard fare. As a lover of mystery I've become extremely adept at finding the killer quickly. Well not the case here. I was guessing right up until the end. Enough red herrings to stock a fish market, and I loved every minute of it. Taking Lives tries to bring the mystery that A Killer Within delivers. So if you want a good mystery check it out.

The movie was decent. Kind of shallow in some of the acting and I question how the brother(?) was able to act as an attorney when he didn't seem like an acting attorney but as a paralegal instead. My biggest question, however, is about the item on the fireplace mantel. What is that object in between the candles? Is that male genitalia? Who puts that on their fireplace? Was that intended or was it a reference to something? Was this made for TV? It cracks me up a little bit.

Aside from that strange, burning question that others must have missed, I also question why an attorney would offer up so much information to the police as he did. He should have known that bringing up wanting children would have made the cops ask more questions.

I usually do not sit down and watch thrillers because I can figure out the who done it of the whodunit. I did lean toward a certain suspect and turned out I was right, but the ride to see if I was correct was rather enjoyable. There was a good plot with a lot of good twists and turns which would leave a person guessing right up to the end. Best roller coaster ride I have had in, well, forever. It was very intelligently done. Kudos to the writers.

The cast was put together well and seemed to work together well. I admittedly am a fan of Ben Browder and have to say he did not disappoint in this movie. I hope to see this group work together again in the future. It seemed as though they really enjoyed what they were doing and to me that makes a difference in watching average and watching above average.

I have to say I enjoyed this little independent movie more than most big box office hits and top TV shows I have seen.

Thanks guys for the good ride.

I rented this movie not knowing what to expect. I'm a fan of Ben's from Farscape, so I was intrigued to see him in something else. As I expected, Ben did not disappoint. He brought some actual three dimensional life into a collection of banal characters.

The plot is nothing unusual, the type of film I'd expect to see in a movie-of-the-week format. There are intriguing elements, especially toward the end as the killer of the title comes closer to being exposed. I wasn't surprised by anything, but I liked Sam and Sara, so I was interested in the character development.

C. Thomas Howell was unimpressive and I'd much rather have had someone more dynamic in the lead role. I'd say Ben, but my bias would show a little too much there. Sean Young-while she drives me nuts-was perfectly cast. I'm not sure I've ever seen Giancarlo Esposito in anything, but I really liked him in this film.

This was independently produced and while there are things about it I wasn't impressed with, all things considered it was a very polished film.