‘To Catch a Killer’ An Expose of Violence

Shailene Woodley in To Catch a Killer From Vertical Releasing

Today things in the world are very different than what they were forty years ago. Serial killers may have changed their method of operation, but one thing is still the same, mass killings are still happening and shouldn’t be. Violence appears to be apparent in our society and there seems to be no answer in sight on how to stop it. We are all living our day to day lives, trying to be a helpful part in our society and hoping we are making a positive difference to our community, leaving us wondering how safe we really are?

A mass shooting occurs in downtown Baltimore during a firework celebration for the New Year eve celebration, where a shooter is able to kill 29 people and escape. Hundreds of Baltimore police officers and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents are on the case searching the city for any clues. Leading the hunt is special agent and task force leader, Geoffrey Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn), who has a history of locating and tracking down his suspects. Looking for the best team to lead this task includes FBI agent and research specialist, Jack McKenzie (Jovan Adepo), who has a history of finding information that helps track down killers. 

During the ruckus of the mass shooting Lammark notices the quick thinking by a local police officer and asks her a few questions about the case.  With his instincts, Geoffrey decides to ask Eleanor Falco (Shailene Woodley) , a street cop who shows extreme intelligence when describing and determining the shooter, to be a liaison between the police force and the FBI. From there things go off into fox hunt trying to locate their killer and to end this madness that was thrust upon them.

This wonderfully designed film, by director and writer Damian Szifron, builds from a dramatic beginning to a chase for answers. He develops an excellent storyline that includes and shows the research and development the tasks force must go through to discover their suspect. Damian includes the details that help make this crime adventure feel realistic and similar to the events that unfold in our society today. 

A very well expressed story that shows the violence that can be caused by one individual and what it takes to bring justice to order. Their are some graphic scenes that might be hard for some to view, like suicide violence and some blood. All and all a deep experience that shows everyone how devastating these types of horrific events can cause for our society today.

Final Comment: I based my grade on the fantastic storyline and wonderful performance by the cast.

Stars 3.5 out of 5

Additional Film Information

Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo
Directed and written by: Damian Szifron 
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, and Thriller.
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violent content, and language throughout.
Running Time: 1 hour and 59 minutes
Release Date:  April 21, 2023
Distributed By: Vertical Entertainment
Release In: Dolby Digital, and Standard.