Suspect Zero (2004) User Reviews (155)

Good mystery... for patient viewers

[BroadswordCallinDannyBoy · 7/10 · 15 April 2007]

After a series of grisly murders FBI Agent Mackelway suspects that they are linked. And that the killer may actually be after another serial killer who may or may not really exist. Naturally, his colleagues think that he is nuts, but that doesn't stop him from investigating.

This movie is a perfect example of flawed masterpiece. The plot is very interesting. The plot twists are surprising. The performances are good. The film's originality good enough to enjoy and the suspense is great. However, despite this there is still something missing. Something so critical that even though the film shines in many respects by the end you feel like you could have gotten so much more. That missing element would have to be part pace and part presentation. The film starts very slowly, but picks up once more clues are revealed by Mackelway. Though this is at least halfway through the movie. Then the presentation is a bit weird. It makes the film standout from others, but it also makes it confusing in parts, namely the beginning. Then by the time it is finished you feel more like you have just watched a good X-Files episode.

Overall it is a good mystery for patient audiences. --- 7/10

Rated R for grim violence

Excellent production design... Compelling story...

[jantoniou · 7/10 · 27 June 2005]

Ripe with powerful imagery, "Suspect Zero" is a movie truly to be watched. Imagery and symbolism are central components of this movie, which pairs a simultaneously composed and tortured Ben Kingsley with the equally composed and tortured Aaron Eckhart, each playing former and current FBI agents trying to compose some meaning to the present from the wreckage of the past.

They both have similar giftings - they are able to see the future. Kingsley in particular is tortured by his inability to control this gift.

A highly prolific killer is running around the country, picking up children - dozens, probably hundreds of children. He tortures then kills them.

We are never quite sure if Kingsley is this killer until close to the end, though the truth is pretty much telegraphed throughout.

Eckhart is respectable as the straight-arrow FBI agent who went too far and got knocked down a few pegs in his career. His obsession with the case parallels Kingsley's and makes for an interesting contrast of styles.

This movie falls on the side of intense. I admired the production values, which called for hundreds of well-composed charcoal drawings, many of which drive the plot. There is dark, sometimes demonic imagery, though I don't think it's laid on too thick. The visual style reminded me vaguely of "Seven," however no director can quite match Fincher's unique visual composition and cinematography. All the shots are carefully composed and the movie never really falters in its editing and pacing.

This is a solid 7 stars. The premise was interesting, plot kept engaging and apace by timing, and the acting solid all around.

Why not 10 of 10 in the rating? Perhaps because the movie ultimately didn't strike me as anything special, even given its relatively A-grade production and acting values. It was interesting, engaging, but ultimately didn't seem to amount to much. The story arc seemed to go off a cliff at the end.

Certainly, still, a worthwhile viewing.

The kind of film that might have you stay awake when viewed on HBO at 2:30 in the morning

[Quinoa1984 · 6/10 · 17 September 2004]

Suspect Zero, a new mystery/horror/thriller/detective-FBI film, tries to make a lot of twists and turns in telling a story that is perhaps all-too-simple at the core. While the acting is fair by the leads (Kingsley, as a man who may or may not be the suspect, plays a tortured soul better than anyone I can think of; Eckhardt and Moss are credible if maybe mis-matched), the script is something of a turn-off. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense, despite a cameo from Robert Towne (uncredited on this site) as a professor who tries to give a little explaining to the FBI agent played by Eckhardt. It's not that the idea of it isn't bad, but it doesn't engage a viewer in a way other thrillers can.

What the film has going for it is the direction. This is E. Elias Merhige's third film after his impenetrable art-house film Begotten (arguably one of the most pretentious, deranged, if unique debuts of the 90's) and small success Shadow of a Vampire (a film that gave Malkovich and Dafoe excellent screen time as silent film icons). The style is more than flamboyant- it's madness. Merhige tries his best to get inside the atmosphere that this killer and it's tracker(s) are in, and he succeeds by almost trying too hard. It reminded me of a kind of avant-garde approach to directing one of those HBO thrillers you might catch late at night. While he doesn't do a job as memorable as 'Shadow', and outside of Kingsley and maybe Eckhardt doesn't elicit very good acting, him and Michael (Raging Bull/Taxi Driver) Chapman bring out a technical aspect with tints and angles and shots that aren't too diverting.

It's the kind of film that misses the mark of great, twisted, FBI-serial killer murder mysteries, and I would not seek it out to rent, but it didn't leave too sour of a taste in my mouth, and I didn't want to walk out of it midway either. It's average fare that could've been better, could've been a lot worse. (strong) C

Good thriller

[guidomaschio · 6/10 · 15 August 2007]

I liked it. The filming is really good and the twists, while not really enigmatic, are good enough to grasp your attention. Eckhart gives a good performance here, and he's really believable as the FBI officer in search for the truth. Kingsley on the contrary seems not at his usual standard, but this is also a consequence of the weirdness of his character. The start is really good, from the cinematic point of view too: you'll think it's a classic horror movie (which is not the case). The ending is not at par with the first 4/5 of the movie but at that point you'll be willing to forgive the director because the rest of the movie is OK.

Eh, it's okay

[andyman618 · 6/10 · 14 October 2004]

I came out of this movie liking it a lot, but the more I think about it, the more questions I have, and the worse my overall impression has become.

The story concerns Tom Mackelway (Aaron Ecjhart), a disgraced FBI agent who has just come off of six month's suspension for "forcibly extraditing" a suspected serial killer from Mexico to the U.S. Now in the Albuquerque FBI office, he soon starts receiving faxes of missing person reports from person or persons unknown.

It turns out that there is a killer out there who has murdered at least two people and is faxing clues to Mackelway. Following a trail of mutilated bodies, and clues left for them, Mackelway and his partner Fran Kulok (Carrie-Anne Moss) work to identify and find him. This killer (Ben Kingsley) also has the ability of "remote viewing," that is, seeing things from a great distance with his mind. He sends the results of these viewing sessions to Mackelway, but why? That is one of the many questions Mackelway (and the audience) have to answer.

This is one of those movies that I have very mixed feelings about. On the one hand, the performances are all good, especially Ben Kingsley's. I swear, it's getting a little boring at how consistently great this guy is. It's too bad he doesn't make much of an appearance until about the halfway point of the movie. E. Elias Merhige's direction is good, but nothing memorable (although Kingsley's remote viewing sessions are pretty intriguing). The failure of this movie comes with the script. It's a mess.By the time the movie was over, there were so many loose ends and unanswered questions that my sense of closure and satisfaction was diminished somewhat.

Maybe I'm being a little hard on Suspect Zero, because there's a lot of good here. Some of the ideas put forward are really intriguing. The trouble is, there are too many of them and what impact some of them might have had is diluted. But like I say, there's some cool stuff and good performances, and the final confrontation between Kingsley and Eckart is powerful. It certainly wasn't a waste of time so much as a waste of potential.

Something Was Lacking

[jmverville · 5/10 · 2 July 2005]

As I followed this film from beginning to end, I enjoyed the revelations of the various twists and I felt that the film even seemed to have a natural and proper progression to it, but at the same time, I felt that there was something very large missing. I think that the director ended up inserting the punchlines with too much subtlety, and the acting was too routine, while the action was too constant to be shocking or surprising... Whatever it may be, the film was lacking something large. The combination of all of the above seems to kill the feeling and plot of the film.

I couldn't help but feel utterly indifferent in some parts of the film which are supposed to be exciting and thrilling, and this caused the film to let me down. I am not sure who is to blame, but in the end, this interesting plot with a lot of potential turned into 'just another movie.'

Underrated thriller mystery

[beaglepilot2003 · 7/10 · 22 August 2019]

Good movie but underrated at 5.8. Should be rated well into the 6's and, for my tastes, a 7. While there are some cliches, there are some very good twists and excellent spins on the genre. Well worth watching. There is so much great content available these days that I rarely waste my time on anything less than a 6.5 (Yes, IMDB is my go-to source for ratings) but this one came on a recommendation and I was highly pleased by the results. Sure, it's not a classic worth viewing twice, but certainly a very good movie to watch at least once.

Se7en + A Hard to Follow Plot + Ben Kingsley = Suspect Zero

[MichaelMargetis · 4/10 · 2 April 2005]

Suspect Zero was almost never made. The screenplay by Zak Penn was originally finished nine years ago in 1997. A lot of producers thought the script wasn't good enough to be a motion picture, but they liked the idea, or premise, of the film. So, later they tried to find other screenwriters to make another version of the film, but that failed. So nine years (or actually eight years – it was filmed in 2003) later, they decided since they didn't have any other alternatives, to stick to Penn's script, but make a couple of revisions. That alone, should tell you Suspect Zero wasn't destined to be an Oscar contender.

Although, Suspect Zero isn't necessarily a good movie, it isn't a bad movie either. When I walked into the theater on Friday afternoon, I was expecting a messy, incoherent piece of amateur fluff. The only reason I went to see the movie, was because of the brilliant Sir Ben Kingsley (no matter how bad a movie he is in, he gives a good performance). Well, the movie wasn't as jumbled and hard to understand as I would have thought pre-screening, but it was still hard to understand. Even though the story was involving and for the most part entertaining, the screenplay had a lot of holes in it, and there were a lot of scenes that were never made 100% clear. I was expecting Ben Kingsley to carry the movie on his shoulders, but he didn't. That's not to say Ben Kingsley didn't turn in another marvelous character study, but it means Kingsley's character just didn't have a very big part. The film is pretty much Aaron Eckhart's movie, and he does a kind of average job with it. It isn't that Eckart is a bad actor, it's just that… he isn't really a great actor.

The supporting cast of the film is pretty much unnoticeable. Carrie Ann-Moss (The Matrix series) plays the role she always plays ; the strong, independent female with a crush on the leading male. Harry Lennix is funny as the smart ass F.B.I. chief, for the few scenes he is in. The rest of the supporting cast kind of runs together though.

The film tries to be too much like 1995's smash hit Se7en, but fails terribly in matching up with the brilliance of David Fincher's masterpiece. However, at the end the film (the last five minutes), the movie achieves great power during the confrontation between Eckhart's ambitious F.B.I. agent, and Kingsley's haunted serial killer. In conclusion, Suspect Zero is about average and somehow manages to spend most of the movie above the level of below average (thanks in part to Ben Kingsley), but I think people should wait for video for this one, and judging by the film critic's reviews of this movie, that won't be a long time at all. (review written 8/28/04) Grade: C (screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, Arizona)

Are you afraid?

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 23 February 2008]

Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley): I know what you're thinking. "Pain is coming. Will I take it like a man?" Well, let me put you at ease. You won't. None of them do. Men, women, children, they all weep, they all beg, they p*ss themselves, they attempt negotiation. You wouldn't believe how many men I've seen lying right where you're lying right now, grown men with wives and children at home, offering all kinds of sexual gratification for a five-minute reprieve. It's pathetic! The fact that Ben Kingsley can win an Oscar playing Gandhi and do a complete 180 in this thriller is a tribute to his acting ability. I have never seen anyone who was scarier than he was. You just knew you were going to die when face to face with him.

The FBI is on the hunt for a serial killer and two stained agents are leading the pack. Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking, Conversations With Other Women) and Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix, Momento) are hunting Kingley until Eckhart realizes that he is hunting the wrong man. The reason is bizarre and imaginative, and adds to the suspense.

This one may not keep you guessing, but it will certainly keep you interested.

A good idea but poorly done

[StanleyStrangelove · 12 May 2006]

Aaron Eckhart is terrible as agent Thomas Mackelway on the hunt for a serial killer and Carrie-Anne Moss as another agent is wasted in this uneven film. The premise of the film is interesting but I can't reveal it because it would be considered a spoiler. Poor Ben Kingsley is relegated to acting with his "intense eyes" look for most of the film. Something is really lacking in this film because the idea is good but the execution is not. The direction is okay but there's not much suspense. The ending is very weak. Most of the film is confusing and there are large holes in the plot. Even the locale of New Mexico is wasted. I lived there an a lot more could have been done with it. Weakest of all are the characters who are distant and quite impersonal. I didn't hate the film but was disappointed that it wasn't done better. Blame the writer mostly for weak characterizations.

something is off

[danielmartinx · 4/10 · 27 March 2019]

I don't like the way that this film is shot or edited. There is a lot of focus on paper and drawing and writing and newspapers, and it feels like a film school project. I do not like the video effect when they go into memory or psychic vision. It looks like a seventies blurred screen. The story is okay and the actors are doing the best they can with the material. It's not a terrible movie, but it is a terrible-looking movie.

Uncompromising Crime Noir Worthy of Cult Status

[RetroRoger · 8/10 · 1 September 2004]

This movie has the makings of a cult favorite, mainly because it refuses to be a crowd pleaser. The audience actually has to work at following the story's build-up. Unfortunately, many want their movies to be purely spectator sport, and will leave the theatre with less than Suspect Zero had to offer them.

This is one of those movies that gets better with a second viewing, giving the watcher a chance to pick up subtleties that are obscured when one is trying to ride a complex plot to its resolution.

Director Merhige does an excellent job with atmosphere (who knew it rained so much in the desert of New Mexico?)and keeps the moviegoer as off-balance as Aaron Eckhart's FBI agent trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle that is literally nationwide.

The storyline itself is a great premise, and unfolds nicely. It's too bad that previews and word-of-mouth gave away so much of the plot. If we could have been drawn into the FBI's original theory that Ben Kingsley was the dangerous serial killer-at-large, then each successive revelation would have been that much more effective.

As it is, Suspect Zero is a solid, even innovative story, with fine performances by Kingsley as the driven catalyst, Eckhart as the straight-looking FBI agent trying to live down a past mistake while trying to understand his own haunted psyche, and the underrated Carrie-Anne Moss as the agent walking a razor's edge between supporting her partner and getting dragged down again by his obsessions.

What has been lost to many critics is the comparison of the true serial killer of the piece to a force of nature. The allusions to the '50-foot shark' in the movie evoked other killing machines from Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' and 'Duel'. The fact that, in the end, the true Suspect Zero was almost non-descript reinforces his threat as a cruel, random killing force.

The movie also satisfies a darker sense of justice within us. Just as Hannibal Lecter preys on the 'free-range rude', here we have an avenger who is willing to meet the serial killer at his own animal level. Who doesn't feel relief and triumph when the killer/rapist of an early scene gets what he deserves, just in the nick of time?

For me, Suspect Zero rates 8 out of 10.

Almost a Great Thriller

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 27 November 2005]

Coming from Dallas after a suspension and a breakdown, FBI agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart) arrives in Dallas when a salesman is killed in a hideous crime. Mackelway is in charge of the investigation and the chief of the agency calls for backup, arriving agent Fran Kulok (Carrie-Anne Moss), who had a past with Mackelway. The leads guide them to Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kinsley), a man that claims to be a former FBI agent, and considered a random killing machine. Mackelway becomes obsessed trying to find the truth.

I saw the trailer of "Suspect Zero" and I really expected a great thriller. The cinematography and atmosphere are really excellent, the cast with Ben Kinsley, Carrie-Anne Moss and Aaron Eckhart is very above average, but unfortunately the screenplay does not work well. The idea is original, the story discloses in a good pace, but something is missing to accomplish my excessive expectations. Nevertheless, watching "Suspect Zero" is worthwhile and my vote is six.

Titçe (Brazil): "Suspeito Zero" ("Suspect Zero")

Suspect Zero? scores close to it!!

[siit · 2/10 · 15 January 2006]

I saw the trailers to Suspect Zero (SZ) on cable and was seriously looking forward to this movie. The trailer showed the huge promise of a Seven/Silence of the Lambs type thriller. When it showed Ben Kingsley scarily extend his arm and you see the rubber glove snap up and he rises in the back of the car- I was hooked. Then the awesome so Hannibal Lector-esquire line of; 'Because I wouldn't want to do this at 70 miles an hour.' Then the tag of the genius hunter and killer of other serial killers... I couldn't wait!! Well I wished I had. SZ ended up being a torturous exercise in exquisite pointlessness and frustration. And the problem is that the above scene and line was by far the most engaging aspect of the movie. Except for Ben Kingsley and the 'promise' of excellence, SZ was terrible. I feel cheated, conned and ripped off that the producers lied in the preview and delivered tripe which was no where near the quality it implied.

Carrie-Anne Moss was a waste of space. It wasn't her fault as her character was given no depth and very little purpose. It was if the producers and casters said 'hey, Carrie-Anne Moss... Matrix, that will get people's interest.'... if I was in her position I would feel used, but then again she presumably choose the role after reading the screenplay. She was the token female.. thats it. The attempted plot of past relationship with Mackleway was never even remotely realised.

OK.. down to the plot or lack there of. It started with promise. Yet it progressively grew into a conglomerate of confused rubbish offering the audience many possibilities but resolution of none. The 'higher agency' sub plot was poorly done, it wasn't quite true when it says the story revolves around a killer killing serial killers... thats so liberal. Past lovers plot nearly made me vomit... the open hostility then next scene they are so lovy-dovy.. and all with no resolution. Whats with the whistling? a few do it - not explained. Are his supposedly insane room-mates part of the higher agency program? what happened to the program and him? Whats with the 'suspect zero? was he? whats the history? We didn't even get to see him - I understand the dynamics of not needing to see the antagonist if you set up an encapsulating emotional concept (ie the trucker from Spielberg's 'Duel') but it was not established and another reason to feel cheated. I guess the real reason I am so annoyed is that SZ held SO much promise but failed to deliver on even the basic level.

The one redeeming feature is Ben Kingsley. Without doubt one of the greatest actors, I was disappointed that he accepted such a terrible role. The potential he first displays, his introduction and the chill he brings is phenomenal. It is obvious he is the class act in this project, but even his brilliance is stunted as the screenplay progressively becomes infinitely shocking. His character becomes a watered down pathetic creep and as an audience, I was embarrassed for him... a world away from the fantastic material of Gandhi.

Overall SZ tried unsuccessfully to blend the Gothic quick edit shots of 'Seven' with a killer as cool, calm and brutally collected as Hannibal Lector... it's believable.... for about 15 minutes. Don't believe the trailer/preview for SZ, instead I recommend that you get your Ben Kingsley fix with 'Sneakers', 'Schindler's List', Death and the Maiden' etc. You will definitely save yourself disappointment and frustration.

It will hold your attention to the end

[the-movie-guy · 26 August 2004]

FBI Agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart) has been put on leave for 6 months, demoted, and reassigned to Albuquerque, because he violated the civil rights of a serial killer, Raymond Starkey. Starkey was living in Mexico at the time, when Mackelway brought him back to America in the trunk of his car. Starkey was eventually set free upon the world. Mackelway arrives in Albuquerque, and his first case is the murder of a traveling salesman, Harold Speck, who has a zero mark on his body. The FBI was called to the scene, because the body was in a car located just across the state line. Soon afterwards, he investigates two other murders. Raymond Starkey was the third victim. All the victims had the same zero mark on their body.

At first, the murders looked random, and then Mackelway begins to connect the dots. The victims are all serial killers, and someone is going around killing them. He gets a lead that Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley) may have some connection to the murders, and he begins to track down O'Ryan. He finds out that O'Ryan was once an FBI agent with special skills, trained to use 'remote viewing' to see what the serial killer sees. This is a dark movie dealing with the subject of serial killers. Sometimes it is hard to follow the clues that the movie reveals, but it will keep you guessing, and hold your attention to the very end. (Paramount Pictures, Run time 1:40, Rated R) (6/10)

" Don't begrudge me, a final wish, . . .Death by Cop "

[thinker1691 · 7/10 · 15 December 2012]

E. Elias Merhige is the director of this fine movie, filmed in New Mexico and written by Zak Penn. The tale is that of F.B.I. Agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart), a superior investigator who soon tracks down and nabs a brutal serial killer. Unfortunately, his methods are such that the case against the suspect is thrown out, allowing the killer to escape justice. Mackelway is demoted and transferred to Albuquerque, where he is assigned to a a similar case involving yet, another serial killer and meets an old partner Fran Kulok (Carrie-Anne Moss). What Mackelway soon discovers is that all the clues of his prime suspect, Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley) for these new grisly killings, may be the key to solving a series of other unsolved murders. The film is a dark drama centering on a collection of twists and turns involving a mysterious government agency called the Orion Project. Ben Kingsley gives an excellent performance and the cast excels in creating a superb movie worthy of being seen by all. Recommend for all Kingsley fans. ****

Supposedly, The Shortest Distance Between Two Points Is A Straight Line...

[cchase · 7/10 · 11 July 2005]

...but director E. Elias Merhige decided to make it LOOOOOONGER with his latest effort, SUSPECT ZERO. Since I was bombarded incessantly by the ads for this movie on PPV Cable, I decided to check out the Official Website and to read some reviews here, spoilers-be-damned. Armed with a lot of foreknowledge, I settled back with my partner to watch it this past weekend.

Where I knew quite a bit about the story already, he knew nothing, and 45 minutes into it we BOTH were equally frustrated at its glacial pace. Deliberate pacing and attention to detail are what served Merhige well, with the under-appreciated SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE. Here, it just gives you the impression that he's nearly breaking his arm patting himself on the back at the cleverness of the entire concept, as well as the admittedly top-notch work done here by veteran DOP Michael Chapman and production designer Ida Random.

Mind you, I am not the kind of viewer who needs to have every plot point spoon-fed to him or telegraphed well in advance, but it just seems like ZERO could have benefited greatly from some judicious editing.

Okay, okay, we get it: "remote viewing" is like peering at a glimpse of hell through a kaleidoscope, something that Ben Kingsley's character is unable to stop and that Aaron Eckhardt's disgraced agent is struggling to understand. But it seems like Merhige could've found a way to convey this with a lot less...excess.

The basic story: after botching the arrest of a known serial killer in a fit of righteous frustration, Tom Mackelway (the so-handsome-it-hurts Eckhardt) is banished to one of those mid-Western backwaters usually reserved for the likes of Fox Mulder. The relative boredom of existing in his desert exile doesn't last long, however, when he is assigned to investigate the puzzling murder of a traveling salesman. Reluctantly appointed to help him is his ex-partner and flame, Agent Fran Kulok (Carrie-Anne Moss, once again in kick-ass babe mode.)

In addition to clues left at the scene, Mackelway is receiving mysterious notes, faxes and other cryptic messages from someone who maybe the mythical rogue agent Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley, in a performance that serves this material better than it deserves.) O'Ryan, is seems, was part of one of those ominous government experiments, (this one based on a real-life case). He was trained in the art of "remote viewing"--a process by which the mind is used as a receiver to pick up, process and record images sent from the minds of deranged criminals of all stripes, specifically serial killers.

O'Ryan also believed in the concept of an "uber-killer" he dubbed SUSPECT ZERO: a serial murderer who never set an established pattern or set of detectable rituals as part of his MO, and therefore could cross the country from coast-to-coast, killing at random and never run the risk of being caught.

Through his own bouts with headaches, bad dreams and flashes of unexplainable visions, Mackelway struggles to connect with O'Ryan through his own latent "viewing" talents, as the bodies and clues pile up. Is O'Ryan trying to enlist his help in catching Suspect Zero? Or having been driven mad by the ability that he can't turn off, has the shadowy lawman become the very thing he seeks to destroy?

As I mentioned before, the technical aspects of the film are damn near flawless, and the jittery, unwittingly alien feel of this dream world set within a nightmarish reality is conveyed extremely well. Eckhardt is one of our few gifted leading men with talent to burn--very much like Brad Pitt, a skilled actor trapped in a matinée idol's chiseled form. As for 'Sir' Ben, there are many actors who can play tortured and haunted, but his version is so unique, he should think about putting a patent on it. He's been exploring "the dark side of his acting force" a lot of late, and it suits him well.

Carrie-Anne Moss has proved that she's capable of handling meatier parts far beyond the archetypal Trinity in THE MATRIX trilogy, such as her role in Christopher Nolan's cult hit MEMENTO. Unfortunately, Fran Kulok is not one of them. Sort of a Dana Scully-knockoff, she does what she can with what the script gives her, and here's hoping that her next part provides her with a lot more.

There's a nice supporting cast, including the outstanding Harry Lennix as Mackelway's exasperated boss, an ever-emerging William Mapother (Tom Cruise's cousin) in a small role, and the uncredited Robert Towne as a shrink who spells out the fine details for Mackelway.

Other reviewers have given this a low score for the inherent ugliness of the subject matter. The world, as we are learning daily with each news report, is becoming an uglier place, so if you would rather not know about it, watch Disney movies.

The score I'm giving it is based strictly on execution (pardon the pun), and whether or not it was a good movie overall. For the performances of the two main leads, and some good creepy moments, (the one where O'Ryan catches a murderer 'in flagrante delicto' with a soon-to-be victim is a chiller all by itself) I'm giving it 7 out of 10. With a little more tightening up, it could've been a nine. Maybe next time, Mr. Merhige.

A bad rip-off of se7en!

[Spaceygirl · 1/10 · 21 March 2005]

"Suspect Zero" is truly, truly terrible. Zak Penn is trying desperately to emulate David Fincher, and fails...miserably. His style of filming is all over the place and he can't make up his mind whether he's filming a noir, nouveau or straight thriller. The script is AWFUL - and does not do its stars justice. Ben Kingsley effectively hams it up as a deranged ex-FBI Agent trying to pin down a heinous serial killer but comes across as a poor man's Kevin Spacey. Aaron Eckhart gamely matches him but falls short and Carrie Ann Moss is woefully miscast as his partner. The cinematography is the only saving grace - bleak and grainy, it effectively captures the essence of the film. All in all, I would not recommend this, unless you have a fixation with bad B movies.

"The Manchurian Candidate" Meets "Silence of the Lambs"

[doug_park2001 · 7/10 · 27 May 2013]

A brilliant serial killer develops a telepathic bond with a disgraced FBI agent who, along with the stalwart female partner with whom he has been recently reunited, tries to figure out all the patterns and catch the killer.

Sound familiar?

Still, as derivative as this film is, there is enough in the way of suspense, action, intrigue, twists, layers, and semi-original detail to probably make it worth watching if you're a fan of this sort of thing. SUSPECT ZERO does have a few small but prominent plot-holes. While there is a good bit of blatant gore, it is not too gratuitous in that respect.

A lot's been said about Ben Kingsley's fine performance, and I agree. Aaron Eckhart's acting is rather staid and stilted, but it's oddly fitting for the character that he portrays. Carrie-Anne Moss does an exceptional job of playing Mackelway (Eckhart)'s stalwart, no-nonsense, but compassionate female partner.

awful

[strauss12 · 2/10 · 30 August 2004]

There is admittedly some potential in the concept behind this film -- in the hands of Jonathan Demme or David Fincher, this story could have been something great. But this, unfortunately, is not the case with Merhige at the helm: the film meanders and stutters with pointless cliche. I felt so badly for the talented cast who were obviously struggling to get through this dreck. There is no way to identify with any of the characters' motivations -- it plays like a bunch of unrelated vignettes strung together (I had similar feelings about the semi-successful 'Shadow of the Vampire'). The pacing is slow and tedious, not unlike the equally insufferable 'Begotten'. There is nothing to grasp hold of and take from this movie. Skip this one.

Slow, slow, SLOW but worth the wait...

[AndyVanScoyoc · 7/10 · 5 August 2018]

If you like your mysteries fast paced and spoon fed, then THIS film is not for you.

Drags and drags and you'll be tempted to turn it off.

But don't.

While the ending could have been better and lacked what you'd expect from the build up, the film is still good and worth a watch.

The tie in at the end was a good touch and nicely ended it all.

For patient viewers ONLY.

Terrible film. I give it a 4.

[Krippler · 3/10 · 25 August 2004]

"Suspect Zero" is like an hour and a half version of an X-Files episode...a really bad X-Files episode. There are no thrills or suspense to speak of. Aaron Eckhart is totally wrong for the part, but then again, I don't know who could have done well with what was given. Ben Kingsley is serviceable, but he basically sleep walks through his part. The character played by Carrie Anne-Moss has no purpose whatsoever. It's like the film would be no different if her character had been left out altogether. The director is trying to be a little too David Fincher and fails to really give any kind of flow to the film or interject his own style. Skip "Suspect Zero" unless you feel like wasting 8 bucks this weekend.

Stylish Serial-Killer Movie

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 6 October 2006]

I very much enjoyed the stylish way this serial-killer movie was presented. It also gets high points for keeping ones interest all the way.

Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kisnley are very good. Kinslgey, unfortunately, doesn't appear until over halfway through but made up for his lack of screen time with an intense performance. He's good at that sort of thing (see "Sexy Beast" for another recent example.)

The story, claimed to be a true one out of U.S. military files, is still a bit "suspect" to me, because I know Hollywood's hatred for the military, but this could be true. Perhaps there was just a project, but I am also skeptical of these ESP-type stories which the film world loves to promote, along with any kind of occult theory.

Nonetheless, this is a very interesting film, nicely shot and an underrated one since it never got much publicity. If you like crimes movies, this movie is one to check out.

Worth a Watch

[view_and_review · 7/10 · 11 February 2016]

I've been watching so many terrible movies lately I almost don't know what to say about a decent film. "Suspect Zero" was definitely good.

Agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart) is demoted to the Albuquerque F.B.I. field office from the Dallas field office. Right away you can tell that he is a big fish in a small pond and would rather be anywhere else. Before he can settle into his new digs he is thrust into a murder case chasing down Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley) who is so elusive that he seems almost supernatural.

For those who like cop movies this is a nice addition to the collection. There is the old fashion following the evidence with the small bonus of a killer that's seemingly taunting agent Mackelway. The whodunit aspect is a non-factor as the face of the killer is shown to the audience right away, but there is always the 'why'. And most of the time the 'why' is far more interesting than the 'who'.

There is moderate intensity and solid acting. Ben Kingsley delivers really well as the near psychotic killer. But if you're thinking--"Oh, another psychotic genius that must be stopped. How original,"--don't. Yes he is a bit psychotic and he has above average intelligence but that's where the parallels end with all other similar movies. It's worth a watch.

You Can Expect Zero From This

[katydid4819 · 4/10 · 18 September 2004]

Suspect Zero spends more time bashing its setting than developing a story. It's set in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the fact that I live there might have some effect on my bias. However, it is hard for me to say that I liked the story and thought the acting was good when there is no story and no talent displayed here. What I will give the film props for is mood. Still, I think it should have been made clear in the early stages of production that a thriller is not sold on camera angles.

Ben Kingsly is an unpredictable actor. One day he's sitting in Hollywood being honored with an Academy Award nomination for his excellent work in House of Sand and Fog and the next he is off filming the dud Thunderbirds. Sure, Ben, it's nice to do something for the kids but that's where the glory of animation comes. It was probably while on the set of Thunderbirds that he read the script for Suspect Zero. There really is no other way to explain how this actor who played Gandhi chose this strange serial killer film.

The script is the work of Billy Ray who's coming off the critical success of Shattered Glass. His follow up is an embarrassment. How could a man that made journalism suspenseful make a serial killer boring? Well, Zac Penn, the co-writer, stumbles upon a good idea called remote viewing, which is used by the CIA to located people. He and Ray do get the psychology down too. Someone one who can see a serial killer in his mind all the time is going to be plagued with problems. Still, with all this potential, they create a script that has no shinning moments just a bunch of lines about how Albuquerque is so lame because a Starbucks isn't within 100 meters at all times (but we're getting there, rest assurd).

Shot with elegance, the horror in the film is small. There is little that makes you jump from your seat in fear and it drags on for too long. Perhaps I was just bored but the entirety of the film feels like a waste. E. Elias Merhige directs this slow, undeveloped misuse of the southwestern desert.

**/*****