Untraceable

Wilsford's Review

Thumb: Up

Notable Characters:
Diane Lane – Jennifer Marsh
Colin Hanks – Griffin Dowd
Billy Burke – Detective Eric Box
Joseph Cross – Owen Reilly

Plot (contains spoilers):
FBI cyber crime agents, Jennifer Marsh and Griffin Dowd, spend their time working nights tracking evil doers on the internet. One day they get a tip on a website Killwithme.com where a serial killer shows a video, in real time, of a kitten surrounded by heat lamps and the more people that tune in to the site the more heat lamps are turned on and the faster the kitten dies. Unfortunately for the FBI, this killer’s site is “UNTRACEABLE”. Very soon after, a local man is taken and shown on the site. This time the man is cut up and is being given an anticoagulant, doesn’t let your blood caught, and the more people are tuned in the more he gets and ends up bleeding to death. This goes on for some time until Marsh learns the connection between all the victims which is that it has to do with a troubled teen’s suicidal father. Sadly this revelation puts her in the cross hairs of our killer but like all good cat and mouse games, the cat wins.

Reason why I didn’t like it:
· It was a typical cat and mouse movie. The situation was unique, a serial killer on the internet, but the general story is the usual.

Reasons why I liked it:
· I was worried that it was going to be the type of movie where the killer turns out to the best friend or someone close to the main character but this one let you know who it was early on which let you focus on the chase.
· Joseph Cross has a creepy demeanor. When you first see him, within a split second you know he is not right.

Final Notes: This was an entertaining movie. It was suspenseful, there was action, and it had a happy ending. Not the best movie out there but worth seeing if you like this genre.

Young's Review

When watching a murder mystery, one expects to have to figure out the killer's identity.

What makes 'Untraceable' so good is that it lets the audience know early on that it can dispense with the guesswork. The movie is not as much about who did it as it is about how it's being done. The killer is revealed relatively early, clearing the way for some edge-of-your-seat tension that doesn't stop until the final credits. The movie grabbed me early and never let go, and I am giving it a 'thumbs up'.

Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) is an FBI investigator in Portland who specializes in patrolling cyberspace looking for criminal behavior. She and her partner Griffin (Colin Hanks) are tipped off to a website unlike anything they have ever seen. The site, www.killwithme.com, is designed to kill a person with the help of the people visiting the site. With every hit the site gets, the victim is driven closer to their death.

The killer turns out to be Owen Reilly (Joseph Cross), a creepily psychopathic young man. His sadistic tendencies turn him into a celebrity on the web for all the wrong reasons. As Jennifer gets deeper into the case, Owen draws closer to her and her young daughter. It all adds up to some genuine suspense and a tense final scene.

Director Gregory Hoblit follows up the fantastic 'Fracture' with another taut crime drama. While the premise is far fetched, Hoblit keeps things believable enough to move the proceedings along. He certainly gets the best out of his actors, especially Lane. The handheld camera work in the scenes showing Owen's victims is appropriately gritty. Also, Hoblit throws in enough curveballs to generate a real sense of fear on Jennifer's behalf.

Lane does a great job as Jennifer. She brings strength and smarts to the role and carries the movie. The most surprising thing is that she does so without a romantic story line. Filmmakers often feel the need to validate a female character with a male companion. It is refreshing to see a woman who can be a single mom and a successful career woman without the help of a man.

Billy Burke (who also worked with Hoblit in 'Fracture') capably plays the role of detective Eric Box, who joins Jennifer's team in investigating the murders. He is the typical tough cop at first, but softens as the investigation deepens. His character is an ideal contrast to that of the fun loving Griffin. Hanks makes Griffin into a lovable Casanova wannabe and it is a shame he is not given more screen time.

This movie is a study in irony. It points out our culture's obsession with violence while only adding to it. It is also an interesting character study in that the responses from the website's visitors are both chilling and sadly realistic. This is never more true than in the final scene, which no doubt will leave some viewers feeling cheated. In my opinion, however, the movie finishes in the only way it possibly can.

While this is certainly not a feel good movie, it is an exciting thrill ride that I recommend to fans of the crime/thriller genre.