2:13

To begin this film has exceeded my expectations by a landslide.I thought going in i would be watching a movie that i have seen a 100 times before with a different name.I am a sucker for the Horror,Thriller genre.I feel this to be more of a mystery thriller.That said the acting was great,well paced,edge of your seat(my kind of movie)in your face.The director did a fine job.I was especially impressed with the twist,mainly because i didn't see it coming.I usually can put my finger on the who dun it but i was really thrown for a loop here.I gotta say i thought it was going a different direction,and i love the fact that i was way wrong(that is so cool).So to sum it up if you want to see a great who dun it in your face mystery thriller (with a bit of horror thrown in)then i highly recommend giving 2:13 a look,you will not be disappointed.I am anxious to read your reviews.Enjoy.

RELEASED IN 2009 and directed by Charles Adelman, "2:13" was written by and stars Mark Thompson as a troubled L.A. detective chasing down an obviously sick serial killer who has a fetish for theater masks and mutilating his victims. Teri Polo and Jere Burns play his cop associates while Mark Pellegrino appears as a distraught victim of the murderer. Deborah Carson is also on hand.

This is a grim psychological crime thriller with grisly elements, bordering on horror, similar to "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) and, in some ways, "The Glimmer Man" (1996). The movie is low-budget, but competent enough with a palpably grey, austere tone. Teri is thoroughly stunning throughout, nice & curvy. I enjoyed her character's relationship with the disturbed (alcoholic) protagonist; you could sense the warmth between them and it's kinda moving.

There's a focus on psychotherapy, which is reminiscent of "Equus" (1977). If that's your thang, you might be interested. Also consider checking out the micro-budgeted "Sheltered" (2010), which shares some similarities, but with an altogether different plot (see my review).

THE MOVIE RUNS 96 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles.

GRADE: C+ (5.5/10)

A police profiler with psychiatric issues, leading an unhealthy lifestyle returns to duty only to be caught up in a serial killer's spree, with the murderer having a personal fixation with his pursuer.

Although feeling like a moodier, more edgy and graphic crime show episode 2:13 is a run of the mill little thriller reminiscent of Silence of the Lambs and Saw with some great grisly special makeup effects. Nevertheless, Thompson's story unravels in the closing act, thankfully it picks itself back up briefly prior to the closing credits.

Subtle, casual Mark Thompson is on form as alcoholic Russell Spivey. Talented actress Teri Polo (Beyond 2012) has a meaty role with Kevin Kevin Pollak having an effective extended cameo. Notable is Jere Burns in a supporting role even if somewhat underutilised.

While well directed by Charles Adelman it's derivative of the genre and it will probably come as no surprise that Thompson also wrote/produced 2:13 as he gives an effort injected performance.

Logic flaws aside, worth watching if only for the Pollack's cameo, Thompson's hard work and Jodie Foster-like Polo's central role.

2:13 is your usual run-of-the-mill style serial killer thriller that looks like it was made and shot in the mid-'90s. Even the way the cast includes supporting roles for various seasoned players like Kevin Pollak and Dwight Yoakam reminded me of the old days of film-making.

Although the DVD cover makes this look like a horror movie, it really isn't. It's just a thriller with a handful of gory moments. I find films like this fail or succeed due to the nature of the killer and how memorable he or she is. Unfortunately, 2:13's killer is entirely forgettable. The rest of the film is a muddle of flashbacks and convoluted scenes, with token blonde Teri Polo shining her flashlight around and getting herself into danger. It's not very interesting.

I'm convinced that since none of these players is ever likely to be cast in a film adaption of the Bard's work, the chance to show off some classical training with some lines from As You Like It and other works. This film concerns a serial killer who has reappeared and who does his best work at 2:13.

Mark Thompson stars and wrote the story which makes no sense at all in terms of who the culprit is. Thompson is a cop/profiler who has some heavy duty childhood issues he's dealing with and the killer struck in his childhood.

Why 2:13 is of significance if you care to watch this surprisingly dull slasher flick is up to you.