Summaries

A mysterious serial killer is preying on other serial killers and one FBI agent suspects there may be more to the vigilante than the obvious characteristics.

When Dallas FBI Agent Thomas Mackelway violates serial killer Raymond Starkey's civil rights during an unorthodox arrest, Starkey goes free and Mackelway is demoted to a remote branch of the agency in Albuquerque. His first day on the job, Mackelway investigates the murder of traveling salesman Harold Speck, which turns out to be the first of three seemingly random killings. Perhaps they are not random at all. The last to die is Mackelway's nemesis, Raymond Starkey. The assignment consumes him, his past mistakes haunt him, and his head throbs constantly as he tries to find the link between the victims that will lead him to their killer while the case becomes increasingly gruesome and patently personal. This does not go unnoticed by his unflappable partner Fran Kulok, who knows of Mackelway's past and the demons that afflict him. Like Mackelway, she becomes drawn into the labyrinth of chilling clues, all of which point to the enigmatic Benjamin O'Ryan. O'Ryan clearly has a connection to the murders, a connection he flaunts. Quite possibly, he may also harbor a sinister link to Mackelway.—Sujit R. Varma

Coming from Dallas after a suspension and a breakdown, FBI agent Thomas Mackelway arrives in Albuquerque when a salesman is killed in a hideous crime. Section leader Rich Charleton puts Mackelway in charge of the investigation and calls for backup, bringing in agent Fran Kulok, who had a past with Mackelway. The leads guide them to Benjamin O'Ryan, a man who claims to be a former FBI agent, and whom they consider a random killing machine. Mackelway becomes obsessed trying to find the truth.—Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Details

Keywords
  • attempted rape
  • rape
  • serial killer
  • albuquerque new mexico
  • eyesight
Genres
  • Thriller
  • Mystery
  • Horror
  • Crime
Release date Aug 26, 2004
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) R
Countries of origin United States Germany United Kingdom
Language English
Filming locations Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Production companies Paramount Pictures Lakeshore Entertainment Intermedia Films

Box office

Budget $27000000
Gross US & Canada $8725813
Opening weekend US & Canada $3446375
Gross worldwide $11416075

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 39m
Color Color
Sound mix DTS Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio 1.78 : 1

Synopsis

FBI Agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart) has been put on leave for 6 months, demoted, and reassigned to Albuquerque, because he violated the civil rights of a serial killer, Raymond Starkey. Starkey was living in Mexico at the time, when Mackelway brought him back to America in the trunk of his car. Starkey was eventually set free upon the world. Mackelway arrives in Albuquerque, and his first case is the murder of a traveling salesman, Harold Speck, who has a zero mark on his body. The FBI was called to the scene, because the body was in a car located just across the state line. Soon afterwards, he investigates two other murders. Raymond Starkey was the third victim. All the victims had the same zero mark on their body.

At first, the murders looked random, and then Mackelway begins to connect the dots. The victims are all serial killers, and someone is going around killing them. He gets a lead that Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley) may have some connection to the murders, and he begins to track down O'Ryan. He finds out that O'Ryan was once an FBI agent with special skills, trained to use 'remote viewing' to see what the serial killer sees. Douglas Young (the-movie-guy)

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