Films about serial killers need to find a way to be extremely unique if they aren’t modeled after true-life events or else they fall into the “same ol’ same ol'” bin. Whether it is setting elaborate traps for people to get themselves into or wearing a black suit with a ghost face and killing teenagers, something has got to stand out and really hit viewers in the face so that they’ll pay attention. It also helps to have an investigation from the good guys that seems to pick apart the pieces of the puzzle one by one much like Edward Norton did in Red Dragon. Anamorph actually tries too hard and overemphasizes to the point where confusion sets in and that’s never good.
Stan Aubrey is a New York detective that doesn’t necessarily interact too much with everyone else in his precinct or even the world itself. Years ago he was promoted to detective after closing a case he had worked on that involved a serial killer. The case was nicknamed “The Uncle Eddie Case.” The case took its toll on Aubrey, but he has tried and rather successfully put it out of his mind…until now. All of a sudden a series of murders are happening that bring back flashes of images and memories from the case that took so much out of him. Someone is copycatting Uncle Eddie and doing it in a more graphic manner then the original even did it. To make matters worse for Aubrey, the killer is focusing on him and bringing him deeper into the case with his own personal works of art based on his victims. Aubrey is being sucked into the madness and must work quickly for his own sanity and so that the murderer can kill no more.
With a look reminiscent of Se7en and a feeling that reminds me a lot of Copycat, Anamorph seemed to have a lot going for it, but it never quite delivered. The biggest problem with the film is that it is extremely slow from the very beginning and lasts almost throughout its entirety. Things just never start clicking until near the very end and by then you’re almost tired of it all and just want it to be over with, but your curiosity is still there so that keeps you watching. Besides being absurdly slow; some of the moments in it just drag out and become almost laughable at times which is a shame because the rest of Anamorph provides a decent amount of tension. For instance there is a chase scene about forty-five minutes in that sees Aubrey running after some guy and the guy jumps off a holding container and to the ground where he almost breaks his legs. He stands up, Aubrey jumps after him, and falls flat to the ground. The guy stops running and looks back at Aubrey laying there as if to say, “Well you just saw me almost kill myself jackass!”
It’s quite a shame how overly dull everything gets because then it kind of wastes the great performances by Willem Dafoe and his hotshot partner played by Scott Speedman. Even wrestling legend Mick Foley has a fun little cameo that actually adds a little extra fun to the short time he’s on screen. The tension is there and the talent is there to make Anamorph a pretty decent thriller with a lot of mystery in it, but the amount of time it takes to get rolling sucks the life out of it entirely. I hate saying that because it’s got a really clever gimmick too that keeps you guessing and trying to figure it all out on your own. It’s almost as if I hate to hate this film and I don’t entirely, but can’t say it will ever be one of my favorites either.
The film is shown in Anamorphic Widescreen format and it has a real made-for-TV feel about it with a slight greenish hue throughout the duration. Some scenes are actually to dark and not everything can be seen clearly.
The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and it actually comes through fine with dialogue heard clearly and some really good music surrounding through the other speakers.
The Making Of Anamorph – I like this featurette because it starts off automatically explaining anamorphosis and how they came about using it in the film. Cast and crew then talk about making the film and what it’s all about, but give little other information. This featurette runs six minutes.
Deleted Scene – A single deleted scene running one minute and fifty seconds in length was cut out for reasons I’m not too sure. It seems like an innocent and short enough scene that it wouldn’t have hurt anything by leaving it in.
Theatrical Trailer
Trailers – Paranoid Park, Savage Grace, and How to Rob a Bank
When it comes to films like Anamorph, I’m kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. It’s good yet it’s not. It’s enjoyable but still it’s boring. How am I supposed to rave about a film that is so incredibly dull? How am I supposed to rip apart a film that has a great plot? The only logical explanation is to score it the middle of the line and recommend that you rent the DVD one night and be prepared to be a little bored but I urge you to stick through to the end because it still is fun to watch. Does that make sense? Either way, give this one a shot sometime but don’t expect a masterpiece or you’ll be overly disappointed. The special features included merit a rental over a purchase even more because they are so few and bring about less then ten minutes total of extra stuff. Anamorph has its moments, but it could have been so much better and that pisses me off because I know what needs to be done to take it that extra step and make it a much better film. But…that authority is not in my hands and it’s why they are making the films and I’m reviewing them.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
IFC presents Anamorph. Directed by: H.S. Miller. Starring: Willem Dafoe, Scott Speedman, Clea Duvall, Peter Stormare, Amy Carlson, James Rebhorn. Written by: Tom Phelan & H.S. Miller. Running time: 103 minutes. Rating: R. Released on DVD: December 9, 2008. Available at Amazon
