Absence of the Good

i was laying on my couch stoned at 2 in the morning and this movie came on. needless to say it is the most astounding, incredible terrible movie i have ever seen. the plot is off the charts, camera work mesmerizing, and the work of Stephen Baldwin....words don't describe it. the movie centers around a cop who is trying to solve a series of killing in salt lake city. the killer always cleans up after him/herself and always places the victims in some sort of family setting. if you are into clichés, this movie provides one at ever turn, or every time Baldwin appears on screen. although i missed the first 15 minutes and didn't seen the ending, i will for sure watch the rest when it is on. if you are in need of a laugh, or if you're an aspiring film maker who needs reassurance, this one is for you.

although i gave this a 1, it is in a very good way.

This is a fairly dull, yet still moderately engaging police procedural. Stephen Baldwin plays the detective who tries to stop a serial killer by finding the clue to his motives in his sordid childhood. The detective has also lost his son recently, a side-plot which adds nothing to the main plot whatsoever, except perhaps that it gives Baldwin the opportunity to be brooding and soulful throughout the film, making the already grim atmosphere (although there is almost no on-screen violence) even more gloomy. The biggest shock of the film comes at the very end, in the credits, when it is revealed that the female psychologist-police consultant is played by Tyne Daly! I wouldn't have recognized her in a million years! (**)

What can I say about DTV movies that hasn't already been said? Not a whole lot. You go in expecting a forgettable experience and the majority of the time that's exactly what you get. Thankfully 'Absence Of The Good' is actually decent.

Here we find Caleb Barnes (Baldwin) as a Salt Lake City homicide detective trying to settle back into his job after losing his son. His wife is still somewhat shattered by it, but Caleb puts on a strong face and tries to move on. Naturally soon he and his partner become entangled in a series of murders who's linked nature only becomes apparent as they pick up the pieces, but it's time they can't afford as the killer continues to strike out at the innocent.

Now I know what you're thinking. At first glance 'Absence' seems like any other serial killer movie to come along. What sets it apart is it's tightly filmed, acted and shot. Never once does it become bogged down or try to be something it's not. There's some fine themes here about children, loss, innocence and the evil men do.

Stephen Baldwin turns in his usual self and for once his mannerisms don't sink the movie, but actually fit in nicely. Under the direction of John Flynn (who did 1987's Best Seller) the story is somewhat slow going, but it builds to an end that hits the right note. With a supporting cast of Tyne Daly as a psychologist and Robert Knepper particularly strong as Caleb's partner. For a low budget television movie the results are decent.

I liked this movie overall, with its strengths being the cohesive plot, a mystery that continued to the denouement, decent performances by the actors, and real-life subplots in the background. However, no acting awards are expected for anyone here, and the musical score was nothing special. Also, I appreciated how the storyline made one think and stay focussed to keep track of how the criminal investigation proceeded. I actually felt like I was following around these detectives on the case and able to understand their thought processes as more clues were obtained. 7 out of 10.

I don't particularly like Stephen Baldwin, as an actor, but his blank face wasn't a total loss as a grieving father in this twisty mystery. The character called for a "numb" person, who became involved in a dynamic situation, which frustrated and enraged, as people died in strange ways, and the police raced to figure out who was going to be next. The acting wasn't that great, but the story held my interest. Worth a look.