It's been done before and way better too!

Rating: 2/10 (3 November 2007)

Sure, there have been several films like this before where some detectives are investigating serial killer's minds and the murders that follow. There was first, "Silence of the Lambs," then there was "Se7en," then "Kiss the Girls," and the French series of "Crimson Rivers" films.
But here we have a bit more horror elements borrowed from over-rated films that weren't good to begin with like "Texas Chainsaw" and "Mindhunters." But while that might be original, the film can not escape seclusion from being just "plain-out loud stupid" and while I know this genre is meant to scare or thrill people, I couldn't enjoy the film in a "popcorn" sort of way.
Also, the actors are wasted here big time! Cary Elwes is trapped with another guy and his connection with this entire case is explained thru flashbacks, but he never really stands out, he just kinda looks frantic, but bland at the same time; Danny Glover ( Lethal Weapon series, Shooter) and Ken Leung ( Rush Hour, X3, Spy Game, Inside Man) have nothing really to do with their detective characters who just stand around on monitors just looking at what the killer is going to do next; Dina Meyer ( Starship Troopers, the awful "Saw" sequels) only says dialog that what the viewer is already thinking, but doesn't move the plot forward at all with what she's given; Monica Potter has nothing really to do as the wife of Elwe's character; and the only real standout is Tobin Bell as the serial character who is playing mind-games with everyone and would return as the character in the sequels to cause more mayhem and carnage!
And last of all, the ending is so predictable and lame, it made me want to cringe! It was pretty darn obvious that Jigsaw was the "supposedly dead" guy on the floor, who then locks up Cary Elwes in the cell forever. Elwes starts to scream, "NOOOOOO!" Cut to end credits and there is no music, but there is a rhythm of screaming agonies.
This leads me to say that the people who created this flick should go to jail for actually thinking such disturbing thoughts. Seriously, this is so callous even for a horror flick. Plus, who roots for the bad guy to get away anyway?!? That's just plain out wrong!