The critical reception for this one has always been fiercely divided, and I can now understand why. It's got a lot of cool concepts, from creating visual environments out of psychological theories to the notion of literally going inside the mind of a killer. But I guess my main issue here is that the movie never really makes any effort to actually capitalize on these ideas.
Like, I have no problem with abstract storytelling, but there is a difference between abstraction and laziness. And when, for instance, the killer's backstory basically boils down to "he was abused as a child", I'd say that we're veering closer and closer to the latter. Plus, it doesn't help that the real-world elements are so tropey (the cop is an insomniac who cares too much about his job and the criminal is a socially awkward weirdo who keeps women in his basement) that I otherwise feel like I'm watching an episode of Criminal Minds.
Still, there's nothing wrong with Criminal Minds, and many of the ideas and visuals presented here really are quite neat (when they aren't too overwrought). I think this is a decent movie, and even occasionally a creative one, but I can't help but feel as though it's also a bit of a missed opportunity.
Grade: B-
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