Johnny Martin's HANGMAN
A movie review by Dennis D. McDonald
As serial killer films go this one is weak and all too familiar. It’s nowhere near the quality of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS or THE CHASER. Still, it’s a fun ride made that way by an excellent cast consisting of Al Pacino, Karl Urban, and Brittany Snow. Together they help the film rise above a trite repetition of familiar scenes and situations.
Admittedly I’ve always been a fan of the “old cop paired with young cop” genre. Here the legendary Al Pacino is paired with one of my favorite actors, Karl Urban. Pacino is called back from retirement to help Urban track a particularly nasty serial killer. They are trailed by an embedded reporter played by Snow. Their interactions help overcome what might otherwise have been just another made for TV 90’s cop show.
From the beginning we suspect that the backstories of the main characters will emerge and we’re not disappointed. This is just one of many unsurprising elements in this almost by the numbers “mystery.” But it’s a fun time and worth an evening’s watch.
Review copyright (c) 2019 by Dennis D. McDonald
