To Catch a Killer

Name: To Catch a Killer
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: April 21, 2023
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 43
Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Darcy Laurie, Joan Hart, Jovan Adepo, Marcella Lentz-Pope

2023

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Ratings

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5.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Ratings

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To Catch A Killer

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Movie Details & Credits

Vertical Entertainment | Release Date: April 21, 2023 | R

Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Darcy Laurie, Joan Hart, Jovan Adepo, Marcella Lentz-Pope, Mark Camacho, Michael Cram, Ralph Ineson, Rosemary Dunsmore, Shailene Woodley

Summary: Eleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young police investigator wrestling with the demons of her past when she is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track the work of a disturbed individual. As the police and FBI launch a nationwide manhunt, they are thwarted at every turn by the individual’sEleanor (Shailene Woodley) is a young police investigator wrestling with the demons of her past when she is recruited by the FBI’s chief investigator (Ben Mendelsohn) to help profile and track the work of a disturbed individual. As the police and FBI launch a nationwide manhunt, they are thwarted at every turn by the individual’s unprecedented behavior. Given her tortured psyche, Eleanor may be the only person who can understand the mind of their assailant and bring him to justice.… Expand

Director: Damián Szifron

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 119 min

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Critic Reviews

Rex Reed

Apr 21, 2023

For the most part, To Catch a Killer is a thriller that thrills more than other similar films do, and Shailene Woodley adds another laurel to her already impressive resume. Read full review

Sumner Forbes

Apr 20, 2023

There’s no shortage of entertaining moments in To Catch a Killer, but that won’t stop audiences from wanting more. Other than the performances from Woodley and Mendelsohn, there’s not a lot to grab onto, which would help distinguish this from countless other entries of this ilk. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Apr 18, 2023

The worst thing you can say about To Catch a Killer is that it’s so adeptly executed in all departments that one is disappointed it ends up feeling a tad generic. It’s engrossing, sometimes exciting, yet never fully free from an overall sense of derivation. Read full review

Screen Rant Patrice Witherspoon

Apr 17, 2023

Woodley and Mendelsohn do everything they can to convert the weak story to something worth watching. Read full review

The Guardian Ellen E Jones

May 25, 2023

The plot proceeds like a mid-season episode of CSI: Anywhere, just with better cinematography and a mournful cello score. Read full review

Jenny Nulf

Apr 19, 2023

Szifron and his co-writer Jonathan Wakeham play it too safe, creating an aggressively stale procedural that doesn’t pack the gut punch it wants to deliver. Read full review

IndieWire Samantha Bergeson

Apr 15, 2023

If a tired retelling of a serial killer thriller premieres in theaters and nobody sees it, did it actually happen? Unfortunately, yes. Read full review

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User Reviews

villani

May 15, 2023

Szifron incarnates a mass shooter and a troubled officer to antagonize a sick culture. A genre movie that takes more significance in everything that surrounds the investigation.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

darocabo

Jul 11, 2023

A very good film, an interesting scope about current status of the society and the social issues with power and people. The only "bad" note for me was that the ending felt a little rushed.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

BradMorgan

Jun 26, 2023

A very good film with a good pace, structure and story. The characters come into their own due to the correct casting and the story develops excellently in the 1,5 hour screentime. I really enjoyed this one!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

netflic

Apr 22, 2023

The action part is solid and decent. Good acting, music, etc.
The rest of the movie is, well, politically correct propaganda with a set of cliches.
What else can you expect from a Hollywood movie?

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

JLuis_001

Apr 24, 2023

I just hate it when a premise as straightforward and yet intriguing as this one is lost because of its makers' inability to capitalize on it.

I think the most crucial obstacle preventing it from exploding is its own plot missteps in trying to be more cerebral than thrilling. I'm more thanI just hate it when a premise as straightforward and yet intriguing as this one is lost because of its makers' inability to capitalize on it.

I think the most crucial obstacle preventing it from exploding is its own plot missteps in trying to be more cerebral than thrilling.
I'm more than in favor of smart thrillers, but as long as they're actually smart.

The game of the cat and the mouse as they try to profile this killer is very weak and for the most part very predictable.
You could tell me I'm watching a modified episode of Criminal Minds and I would believe it.

The ride that follows after its beginning is one completely incapable of ever offering a change of pace that would provide just the right amount of excitement to make you want to reach the conclusion. That you would actually care about reaching that conclusion.

Add to this that Shailene Woodley is incapable of selling the role with conviction considering the character's demons and is effortlessly overshadowed by Ben Mendelsohn despite the fact that his role is so thin.

To Catch a Killer was quite an underwhelming thriller.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Kjlange

Sep 2, 2023

Could have been good but had to go into all the political talking points. Gun control. Eating meat. Unfair society. Had they stayed in their lane of entertainment and not preaching it would have been much more ENTERTAINING. I give it a lower rating for that and the resulting eye rolling.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

UncleWillard

Jul 16, 2023

So bad I couldn't possibly spoil it. First, this imaginary white supremacy demon is about as credible as the satanic cult theory in the 80s. Second, I never really noticed, because she makes no impression on me, but Shalene Woodley I'd a terrible actress. Add a boring and unbelievable plotSo bad I couldn't possibly spoil it. First, this imaginary white supremacy demon is about as credible as the satanic cult theory in the 80s. Second, I never really noticed, because she makes no impression on me, but Shalene Woodley I'd a terrible actress. Add a boring and unbelievable plot full of bogus police procedural stuff, not yo mention the ever-present temperature of the nurturing, but tough woman lead, and you get an over-priced underwritten lump of crap. I almost sensed the better actors just phoning it in.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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