tomsview
I am always amazed at how inventive serial killers are in movies. In reality serial killers use fairly unimaginative methods in their crimes, and get away with them mostly through sheer luck. Even when they taunt the police with a note, they more often than not reveal a challenged level of literacy. But in movies, the planning and engineering skills of the average serial killer are on a par with putting a man on the moon. "Untraceable" is a case in point.Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane), an FBI agent involved in detecting cybercrime discovers a serial killer using an Internet site to set up his victims. The film has an unpleasant premise in that the murders only happen if viewers log on, which they do despite pleas not to from the authorities. The film posits a very jaundiced view of society, becoming somewhat preachy on the subject. Much of what happens though is straight out of the Serial Killer Movie Manual, especially the head FBI guy taking a while to get on board with Jennifer's warnings.A single-mother back-story and a quirky offsider with victim written all over him help fill out the space between the credits. One break from the formula is that the murders all involve guys and aren't sexual in nature, a point of difference with 99 per cent of serial killer movies. Usually the most watchable part of this kind of thing is the detection element, and in this case the tracking sequences are the highlights of the movie. The ending is definitely drawn from the manual as the cops close in on the killer - you hardly need to watch the screen to know how it ends.As long as you don't expect a "Se7en", or a "Silence of the Lambs", "Untraceable" is not the worst serial killer thriller, however, it does take itself just a little too seriously - no wonder the critics thought its 'message' was hypocritical.
Mohamed Salem Obada
A ferocious retelling of the old tale of voyeurism, supplemented by the behind-glass-partitions shots. It brought to my mind the memory of Hitchcock's (The Rear Window). A good casting is waiting for you there. Diane Lane was like enthusiastic .. The guy who played the serial killer gave the traditional flat affect imprinted on serial killers' faces in movies. His methods of killing seemed to me rather complying with the social roles of his victims, for example the anti-coagulant bleeding of the naturally cold-blooded pilot and the heat lamp burning of the announcer who brings secrets to light on TV. Actually voyeurism continues till the last moment as the chat room displays comments.. It's a good movie on the whole.
unnikrishnan pm
This movie is an underrated gem. The story is socially relevant and the situation is possible too. People say 'Saw' is great. Then, how did they find this one bad? Just go to youtube and see some of the videos were someone is getting killed. Believe me. There ARE such videos in YOUTUBE. Read the comments. There would be some comments in which people are taking the situation in a hilarious way. You see, this movie is highly relevant. The one flaw that I found in the movie is the ending. It is highly implausible that the kid would stage the death in the police officer's own garage. Besides, the way she escapes is highly unrealistic. I think the movie would've been an EPIC if they changed the ending and made her die in the end. Then, the comment they show in the last scene would've more effect. Seriously, I think this movie is just great
Val Ensia
Diane Lane and a strong supporting cast make up for a "been there-done that" crime drama. The story contains a few original twists as well as a few serious implausibilities. Nevertheless, the direction, pace, and performances, especially Lane's and Bill Burke's, draw you in and by the abrupt conclusion, you are on the edge of your chair. Burke and Lane, as rival investigators, develop an interesting chemistry that builds through the film and is never compromised. Joseph Cross gives a creepy, effective performance as the deranged techno-killer. The fact that the story gives him such amazing capability to the point that you occasionally start rolling your eyes should in no way deter from his acting.All in all, nicely packaged if somewhat contrived; The story hinges on the fact that this "wunderkind" killer can continually crack every computer in his way, stay one step ahead of the law, and continue to capture victims for his morbid shows without skipping a beat. All that IS hard to believe, yet "Untraceable" was still satisfying entertainment.
AD
