Suspect Zero
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Suspect Zero | |
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Directed by | E. Elias Merhige |
Screenplay by | |
Story by | Zak Penn |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Michael Chapman |
Edited by |
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Music by | Clint Mansell |
Production companies |
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Distributed by |
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Release date | August 27, 2004 |
Running time | 99 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Budget | $27 million |
Box office | $11.4 million |
Suspect Zero is a 2004
The film is about the hunt for Suspect Zero, a potential serial killer who is able to kill indefinitely because he is able to remain undetectable by law enforcement agencies. It features various elements from declassified DIA Stargate remote viewing protocols.[1] As of 2024, it is the last theatrical film Merhige has directed.
Plot
Harold Speck was a traveling salesman, making the rounds in a small town when he encountered an old man in a diner. The man approached him with a strange, uncomfortable question, before abruptly leaving. Shortly after his visit, Harold was found dead in the front seat of his car, his eyelids cut off and a strange symbol in his grasp, a circular shape with a line drawn through it. Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent Thomas Mackelway, recently suspended for brutally beating suspected serial killer Raymond Starkey, is brought in to investigate Harold's death. He and his partner Fran Kulok soon become the recipients of a series of taunting faxes from someone claiming to be the killer, leading them to discover the existence of Suspect Zero, a mysterious criminal responsible for hundreds of unsolved deaths and leaving no physical evidence behind. With the help of a mysterious informant known only as "Mr. Blue", Mackelway and Kulok follow the clues left by Suspect Zero in order to find the truth behind Harold Speck's tragic and mysterious death.
When another body is found in the trunk of a car, the agents trace the ownership of the car to a room in a halfway house occupied by Benjamin O'Ryan. Upon further investigation, they discover that the room is decorated with
It is only when Mackelway uses his abilities to uncover the name of Starkey's partner in crime, along with evidence proving O'Ryan's innocence, that the case is solved. The evening was warm and still as Mackelway and Kulok drove towards the bar. They had received a call about an attempted kidnapping and were on their way to help the victim. When they arrived, they found O'Ryan standing outside, the body of a man lying near his feet. To their shock, they recognized him as Starkey, a man that had recently been released from prison. Evidence soon came to light that O'Ryan was part of Project Icarus, an experimental program aimed at developing and harnessing telepathic abilities in individuals for military purposes. O'Ryan had used these abilities to understand the actions of serial killers, leading him to hunt them down. It was then that Mackelway discovered that he too had limited access to these abilities.
Kulok and Mackelway's superiors were unconvinced by O'Ryan's claims that the man had been the victim of a serial killer rather than the perpetrator. It took Mackelway's use of his abilities to uncover the identity of Starkey's partner in crime, as well as conclusive evidence that O'Ryan was indeed innocent, for the case to be solved. Finally, there was justice for the young girl who was almost taken away, with O'Ryan’s use of his special abilities providing the solution to the case.
Suspect Zero is revealed to be a man who drives cross-country in a
Cast
- Aaron Eckhart as Thomas Mackelway
- Ben Kingsley as Benjamin O'Ryan
- Carrie-Anne Moss as Fran Kulok
- Kevin Chamberlin as Harold Speck
- Harry J. Lennix as Rich Charleton
- Keith Campbell as Raymond Starkey
Production
Screenplay
The film is based on a first draft by
In 2002, Cruise/Wagner Productions hired Bill Ray to rewrite Penn's original script.[8] Changes included moving the action from Texas, making the lead character a burned-out, disgraced FBI agent rather than a rookie, and turning a maverick criminal profiler into a psychic with the power of remote viewing.[citation needed]
Filming
The film began shooting in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002.[9] The state was chosen because it offered tax-free incentives and financial funding to film companies using New Mexico.[10] The program was established to entice film makers to the state.[11]
Reception
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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Suspect Zero holds an approval rating of 18% with a rating average of 4.4/10 based on 129 reviews. Its consensus reads, "Other than Ben Kingsley, there's not much to like in this preposterous thriller."[12] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 37 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "Generally unfavorable reviews".[13]
Roger Ebert felt that the film was too confusing, stating "enigmatic flashes of incomprehensible action grow annoying, and a point at which we realize that there's no use paying close attention, because we won't be able to figure out the film's secrets until they're explained to us."[14] Nick Schager from Slant Magazine wrote a particularly scathing review of the film, stating "Suspect Zero proves, uninspired imitation is the lowest form of thriller filmmaking."[15] Carla Meyer from the San Francisco Chronicle was also critical of the film, writing, "Suspect Zero needed to be exceptional, and it isn't. It's merely adequate, with one riveting element but limited chills."[16]
Home media
Suspect Zero was released via DVD on April 12, 2005,[17] and was re-released via DVD on August 1, 2017 by Paramount Home Entertainment[18]
References
- ^ Targ, Russell. "Standard Remote-Viewing Protocol (Local Targets)" (PDF). CIA. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2017.
- ^ "MORIARTY Captures the Shooting Draft of SUSPECT ZERO and Puts It Out of Its Misery!!".
- ^ "Anatomy of a Murder". September 10, 2004.
- ^ Vejvoda, Jim (August 3, 2001). "Vampire Director Named Prime Suspect". IGN. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Green, Willow (November 14, 1999). "Suspect Zero Stalls". Empire Online. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Vejvoda, Jim (August 3, 2001). "Vampire Director Named Prime Suspect". IGN. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ Vejvoda, Jim (August 3, 2001). "Vampire Director Named Prime Suspect". IGN. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
- ^ "Billy Rays of Light". Screenwriter's Utopia. February 25, 2002. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ "Facts About The Movie Suspect Zero 🎥 - ESH". epicstorieshub.com. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Location report: New Mexico". The Hollywood Reporter. September 20, 2006.
- ^ "Incentives". New Mexico Film Office. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Suspect Zero (2004) - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Flixster. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "Suspect Zero Movie Review & Film Summary (2004)". Roger Ebert.com. Roger Ebert. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ Schager, Nich. "Suspect Zero". Slant Magazine.com. Nick Schager. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ Meyer, Carla (August 27, 2004). "Madman offers some killer advice - SFGate". SF Gate.com. Carla Meyer. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ "Suspect Zero on DVD". Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Suspect Zero on DVD (re-release)". Retrieved March 28, 2021.
External links
- Suspect Zero at IMDb
- Suspect Zero at AllMovie
- Suspect Zero at Rotten Tomatoes
- Suspect Zero at Box Office Mojo
- Cast/Crew listing by the New York Times
- New York Times Review by Manohla Dargis