Mindcage bundles tiresome serial killer clichés into a lackluster thriller with strained pacing. A capable cast of Hollywood veterans go through the motions with low energy. The second act feels like molasses dripping backwards. Mindcage rehashes Silence of the Lambs with a religious-themed, supernatural narrative. There may have been snippets of intrigue somewhere but nothing visceral ever takes hold. Random scares add an occasional fright component almost as an afterthought. I can imagine the editors grasping at straws to spice up the plot. It doesn’t help that the big twist is easily guessed in the beginning. You don’t have to be a forensics investigator to figure out the baddie, and then sit around while the film catches up.
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Grizzled Detective Jake Doyle (Martin Lawrence) enters a bizarre murder scene at a Catholic Church. A woman has been killed and staged in an elaborate, costumed pose. He’s upset the homicide unit’s newbie officer, Mary Kelly (Melissa Roxburgh), has already begun to investigate. Mary learns the crime mirrors the ghastly work of an infamous incarcerated serial killer. Jake caught “The Artist” (John Malkovich) five years ago at a great personal cost.
A second victim found the following day raises the stakes. Another dead prostitute has suffered an awful similar fate. A copycat killer is recreating the Artist’s murders with exact precision. The complexity of the crime and total lack of evidence confounds law enforcement. Mary makes a bold proposal to ask the Artist for help. Jake thinks that’s a terrible idea.
Two weeks before his execution, the long-haired Artist demands his sentence commuted to life in prison for any assistance provided. He’ll only talk to the fresh-faced Mary, and wants his painting supplies back as part of the deal. As Jake continues to struggle from his first encounter with the Artist, Mary intrigues the calculated psychopath. She must engage him further as the copycat increases his body count.
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Superficial Religious Themes
Religion drives each character at different levels. The Artist believes he was ordained by angels to kill. A haunted Jake finds solace in Christian ideology. Mary, a staunch atheist, has zero patience for mysticism. Their unknown adversary is obviously obsessed. We see the hooded culprit in action with his terrified prey. Mindcage uses costumes, imagery, and symbology to establish tension. It’s not effective and comes off as superficial.
Roxburgh, channeling a Clarice Starling vibe, lacks chemistry with co-star Lawrence. The pair look awkward together throughout the film. An attempt to bring them closer as the story progresses doesn’t accomplish its goal. The overused trope of conflicting police personalities becoming pals for the greater good falls flat.
Malkovich thankfully isn’t doing a Hannibal Lecter impersonation. The prison set-up is the same, but he avoids emulating Anthony Hopkins. That said, the Artist is a surprisingly dull antagonist. Malkovich, normally spectacular in playing creepy roles, is too reserved. He’s just not threatening. That kneecaps the film from the start.
Mindcage is a production of Boomtown Media Partners, Bondit Media Capital, Head Gear Films, and Metrol Technology. It will have a concurrent VOD and limited theatrical release on December 16th from Lionsgate.
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