Currently on Amazon Prime: “Catch the Killer”: A cop thriller that is unjustly flying under the radar, says MeinMMO author Schuhmann. The film may lack big stars, but it delivers two hours of thrilling entertainment on two levels.
This is how Catch the Killer begins: A sniper kills 29 people in Baltimore on New Year’s Eve, who are joyfully celebrating the transition into the new year. He hits flawlessly from a distance, leaving no traces. There is no motive, no clues, no leads.
An experienced FBI agent, a real doer, confident and legs spread apart, is tasked with solving the case; quickly he notices a young policewoman who collapsed while collecting evidence, and later, over coffee, she says: The perpetrator killed the victims as if he wanted to swat mosquitoes.
The policewoman wants to seize her chance and dives fully into the case. But the experienced FBI man knows that a countdown has begun with the murder. Immediately, one feels the pressure from the public: The city is in panic. Politicians fear for their jobs, the media fuels the atmosphere. Everyone knows better, everyone has a theory: He must find the perpetrator, best immediately.
But how do you find a perpetrator who has committed the perfect murder?
The pressure from the public adds more suspense to the thriller
What makes the film special: The thriller has a truly clever primary plot: A dedicated team is searching for a perpetrator, using all forensic tricks, pursuing every lead.
Quickly, one has logically sounding theories:
- Such a good sniper must have been trained somewhere.
- Someone must have already sighted the building from which the shots were fired. Who was inside?
- Why does a painter bring his crying baby to an interrogation?
- Why does the killer use a 40-year-old sniper rifle?
Meanwhile, the dynamics between the characters resemble those from “The Bone Collector” or “The Silence of the Lambs”: An experienced investigator sees potential in a sharp-eyed but unstable young woman.
The inspirations, classics of the cop thriller, focus on the investigation.
What is unique about “Catch the Killer” is the presence of a second level in the film. Because the brilliant investigator is more occupied with defending himself against other departments and the big shots who want to explain to him how his job should be done:
- The investigator wants to proceed methodically, search for tiny traces, and slowly approach his target
- However, others want quick success, the spectacular arrest, the fame for themselves
This conflict gives the film an unusual character, leads to unexpected twists, and makes it more realistic.
With Angelina Jolie, more people would know the film – but would it be better?
Is “Catch the Killer” worth it? Yes, it is a very thrilling film with really clever twists and an engaging finale. The film follows through relentlessly.
All characters act at the peak of their abilities. It is exciting to follow every step of the investigation. With the new aspect of political and public pressure that “Catch the Killer” adds to the cop thriller formula, the film gains significantly in stature.
Ultimately, one gets the feeling: If the film had perhaps had Angelina Jolie and George Clooney in the lead instead of the excellent Shailene Woodley and Ben Mendelsohn, many more people would know “Catch the Killer”. But who knows if it would have been as good then.
Where can you find “Catch the Killer?” The film is currently available on Amazon Prime. It lasts about 2 hours, is available in German dub, and is rated for ages 16 and up.
Amazon Prime, the streaming flat rate, is a mixed bag. You really have to make sure you get enough films to make the investment worthwhile. We also reviewed another thriller on MeinMMO that just started on Amazon: God is a Bullet: In the new thriller rated 18+, a star from Game of Thrones hunts down nasty Satanists.
