Summary
- To Catch a Killer, directed by Damian Szifron, is a must-watch crime thriller that delves into the psychological aspects of serial killing and presents traditional characters in unique ways.
- The film explores the theme of how society treats outcasts and what drives them to act against the law, challenging the typical portrayal of crimes in thrillers.
- With solid acting, insightful cinematography, and Szifron’s signature style, To Catch a Killer balances audience expectations with surprising twists, making it appealing to genre lovers and casual viewers alike.
August came with many interesting movie additions to Hulu. From all-time classics, like the Jurassic Park trilogy, to fun animated films, the streaming platform continues to add strong content to its catalog. Yet, for those who love a good thriller, Hulu is bringing To Catch a Killer to its roster of unique whodunits. Though not drawing particularly large crowds to cinemas, the film did premiere in theaters, and streaming seems to be a great new home for this one-of-a-kind thriller that will be available on Hulu starting August 19.
To Catch a Killer is an American crime thriller directed by Damian Szifron, an Argentinean filmmaker with a knack for spectacular and dramatic storytelling. With notable films in his home country, such as Wild Tales, Szifron caught the attention of Hollywood producers, noticing his talent for genre films with an extra pinch of insanity. His latest movie dives deep into the psychological aspects of serial killing, with new ways to present traditional characters such as detectives, suspects, and the murderer. These, and many other elements, make To Catch a Killer a must-watch.
What Is To Catch a Killer About?
Szifron’s whodunit thriller takes place in the city of Baltimore. Starring Shailene Woodley (the Mary Jane Watson that never was), the actress takes the role of Eleanor, a young policewoman that quickly shows a certain quality for investigating atypical crimes.
When many people are killed on a special occasion under very strange circumstances, the CIA gets involved, with agent Lammark (Ben Mendelsohn, a familiar face for any Star Wars/Marvel Fan) taking the lead in the investigation and drawing Elanor as her partner for her clever interpretation of the odd circumstance of the crime.
The two detectives will soon discover that the perpetrator of these killings is not a regular assassin, and both the society and the institutions behind them may be misleading them in their attempt to capture the culprit.
Szifron’s movie checks every box in the crime thriller genre in terms of story: a mystery, multiple layers of security forces in conflict to resolve it, detectives with a sense of justice that differs from the institutions they work for, and many other typical elements. This gives viewers an idea of what to expect while still managing to subvert expectations. The movie plays with a couple of clichés from the genre to poke fun at this (but not disrespectfully), as it still takes care of every detail that makes it a quintessential crime thriller.
Translated to “Misanthrope” in other countries, To Catch a Killer‘s underlying theme is how society treats outcasts and what makes them act against the law. Most of the characters portrayed in the film have a distinct trait, condition, or fundamental aspect that sets them apart from the conventional idea of normal (both in positive and negative ways), and the movie exposes how this can completely change how society looks at them, based on misconceptions, prejudice, and even understandable caution. The deep psychological roots of the acts depicted in the movie challenge the way in which crimes are usually shown in these kinds of thrillers, making it the most important topic in the film.
Why To Catch a Killer Is a Must-watch
Crime thrillers, like any movie genre, work on the basis of expectations. When audiences choose to watch a genre film, from light-hearted comedies to heart-breaking dramas, they usually know what to expect to a certain extent. Szifron has a clear understanding of this and manages to both give audiences what they want from a thriller as well as surprise them on the way. To Catch a Killer strikes the right balance between expectation and its subversion, appealing to both lovers of the genre and casual watchers alike.
The acting of the film is solid. Shailene Woodley stands out from the cast for her profound portrayal of a troubled agent trying to cope with a tragic past while remaining professional. Everyone in the cast does a great job of depicting the anguish of the context they live while not having to over-explain with iterative dialogue.
In fact, a lot of the narration is done through insightful cinematography, with dazzling scenes that do not require much conversation to explain the characters’ deepest emotions. The result is a constant yet tolerable tension that resolves toward the end, with interesting twists along the way.
Damian Szifron’s direction is known for its clean and visually pleasing imagery, his dramatic and memorable use of music and sound, and his scripts’ unpredictable turns. To Catch a Killer lives up to Szifron’s previous work but with the grandeur of a Hollywood-budgeted thriller. This doesn’t prevent him from adding his signature style that originated from his Argentinean filmography. His ideas on current social events are present on screen, sometimes with subtle meta-commentary and other times with direct hits to some of society’s most ridiculous practices.
To Catch a Killer hits Hulu on August 19, an excellent addition to its roster of crime thrillers. It’s the perfect plan for fans of the genre or anyone who wants to get acquainted with Damian Szifron’s work, an up-and-coming Argentinean director with a promising career in Hollywood.