This new psychological detective film is in the same vein as David Fincher’s S7VEN and even though it may echo the mood and atmosphere of that film ANAMORPH is its own animal and a welcomed addition to the serial killer genre. In the film Willem Dafoe plays Stan, a detective over the hill and just buying his time till his pension kicks in. He has been inactive for five years teaching murder psychology to a new generation of students and detectives. He’s an obsessive compulsive who hasn’t been the same since he blamed himself for the murder of a innocent girl by the serial killer “Uncle Eddie” and whose subsequent capture and murder lead to his being promoted to detective.
Now a new series of murders have started and Stan is asked to partner up with Detective Carl Uffner (Scott Speedman), himself just recently promoted to detective. Uffner is determined to believe that the new murders are done by a copycat yet Stan slowly begins to believe that the new and more elaborate murders may be by Uncle Eddie whom he thought was dead. As he gets closer to discovering who the killer is the killer is getting closer to him implementing him into each of the next murders.
Tom Phelan and Henry Miller’s (who also directed the film) screenplay is a slow and smart thriller that delves deep into the psychosis of Defoe’s “broken” character. This is complimented by the lengths to which the killer will go to impress the detective with his elaborate crimes. The “anamorph” of the title refers to an art style “anamorphosis” in which a painting technique manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas. This is the technique by which the killer poses his “masterpieces” and is definitely well worth the ticket admission alone.
Miller does a capable job as director relying more on his actors then on directorial flare and Defoe is more then capable to take the lead as he gives a commendable performance as the tortured yet dedicated and fragile detective. One of the drawbacks to the film is the fact that neither Speedman nor Clea DuVall are given much to work with as Speedman and Defoe rarely work together as their characters clash at every turn. DuVall is given even less as she is a character whom Stan befriends after feeling guilty for letting her best friend die. They are kindred spirits whose paths are not adequately worked into the script therefore her plight with the serial killer at the end is kind of anti-climatic. Peter Stormare, as usual, steals every scene he is in and makes for one hell of a friend and business associate to the dissociated Stan.
Although ANAMORPH does not have the style and flare of S7VEN there is no denying that the film still is a very good addition to the serial killer genre especially considering what else has come out this year so far.
Now a new series of murders have started and Stan is asked to partner up with Detective Carl Uffner (Scott Speedman), himself just recently promoted to detective. Uffner is determined to believe that the new murders are done by a copycat yet Stan slowly begins to believe that the new and more elaborate murders may be by Uncle Eddie whom he thought was dead. As he gets closer to discovering who the killer is the killer is getting closer to him implementing him into each of the next murders.
Tom Phelan and Henry Miller’s (who also directed the film) screenplay is a slow and smart thriller that delves deep into the psychosis of Defoe’s “broken” character. This is complimented by the lengths to which the killer will go to impress the detective with his elaborate crimes. The “anamorph” of the title refers to an art style “anamorphosis” in which a painting technique manipulates the laws of perspective to create two competing images on a single canvas. This is the technique by which the killer poses his “masterpieces” and is definitely well worth the ticket admission alone.
Miller does a capable job as director relying more on his actors then on directorial flare and Defoe is more then capable to take the lead as he gives a commendable performance as the tortured yet dedicated and fragile detective. One of the drawbacks to the film is the fact that neither Speedman nor Clea DuVall are given much to work with as Speedman and Defoe rarely work together as their characters clash at every turn. DuVall is given even less as she is a character whom Stan befriends after feeling guilty for letting her best friend die. They are kindred spirits whose paths are not adequately worked into the script therefore her plight with the serial killer at the end is kind of anti-climatic. Peter Stormare, as usual, steals every scene he is in and makes for one hell of a friend and business associate to the dissociated Stan.
Although ANAMORPH does not have the style and flare of S7VEN there is no denying that the film still is a very good addition to the serial killer genre especially considering what else has come out this year so far.
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