A Thriller Which Dares To Think

Rating: 9/10 (24 April 2003)

Morgan Freeman has always been an extremely distinctive actor, be it his hair, his voice or even his general appearance. But he is also an excellent one, with this 1995 thriller being one of his finest roles to date. At first you think this film is just your bog-standard serial killer thriller, albeit an impressively shot one. However, as the film progresses, you realise that this film also deals with serious moral issues (witness the killer's denial that he has killed 'innocent' victims) and generally exudes such an overwhelming sense of depression it's hard to believe sometimes that you are watching the supposed real world. Throw in extremely brutal and sick killings, with the razor-edged dildo being a particularly gruesome standout, and excellent performances from Freeman, Paltrow and Pitt (who's arrogant, hot-headed Detective Mills is the template for his electrifying performance as Tyler Durden in the director's later film Fight Club.) But the real honours must go to Kevin Spacey. His serial killer 'John Doe' is a terrific role to play and he does so with admirable flair. The expression on his face when he is about to be shot by Mills makes your skin crawl and your flesh tingle. All in all, this is an extremely impressive film, which really needs to be seen on DVD in all its gory glory. Although perhaps not quite as brilliant as Fight Club, it is a journey into a place that you will never want to enter. Ever.