Surprising Turn.

Rating: 8/10 (7 January 2002)

What seemed to be a fairly typical formulaic serial killer mystery , with the older, world weary retiring cop, imparting his "wiser" and jaded view of the world on a younger new comer, takes a sudden unexpected turn and becomes a brilliant original. The conversation that transpires in the car between the two main detective characters and the killer on the way to the final scene is absolutely mesmerizing. What's really fascinating is to watch Detective Somerset's (Morgan Freeman) face as he listens to John Doe explain his view of the state of the world as he realizes how much it resembles his own view as stated just the night before in the bar with his partner. Especially in regard to the apathy of the populace. Of course John Doe's solution to the problem is perverted and psychotic. John Doe is a very effective representation of twisted religious fundamentalism that sees every one that doesn't follow their particular moral code as infidels deserving of death, and carrying out their death is only doing God's work. This movie comes out of nowhere to be a piercing thought provoker. Added note: Great and fitting closing credits song "The Heart's Filthy Lesson" by David Bowie from his much underappreciated album, Outside.