‘The art of the kill’
Mindcage is a 2022 American thriller film about two detectives who seek a serial killer’s help to catch a copycat maniac.
Directed by Mauro Borrelli (WarHunt; The Recall; The Ghostmaker; Haunted Forest) from a screenplay written by Reggie Keyohara III (WarHunt; The Recall).
The movie stars John Malkovich, Martin Lawrence, Melissa Roxburgh, Aiden Turner, Jacob Grodnik, Ritchie Montgomery, Jeremy Turner and Cassandra Gava.
Plot synopsis:
Detectives Jake Doyle (Martin Lawrence) and Mary Kelly (Melissa Roxburgh) seek the help of an incarcerated serial killer named The Artist (John Malkovich) when a copycat killer strikes. While Mary searches for clues in The Artist’s brilliant but horrifically twisted psyche, she and Jake are lured into a diabolical game of cat and mouse, racing against time to stay one step ahead of The Artist and his copycat…
Release:
In the US, Mindcage was released theatrically and on Digital and Deman (VOD) by Lionsgate on December 16, 2022.
Reviews:
“Mindcage is a time-waster, and not even a nicely shot one that either. It’s a very grungy 90s detective thriller with popular actors wasting their time who are going to cause audiences to waste their time.” 1.5 out of 5, Film Gate Reviews
“It is hard to decide whether the look of the film is best described as “lurid” or “cheap.” Yet, somehow, the low budget works with the grotesque visuals to create a feverish vibe. Mindcage sort of works in spite of itself. The film is a strange wild card fans of Lawrence and Malkovich might enjoy…” J.B. Spins
“Although Martin Lawrence deserves credit for playing against type with a serious role, he doesn’t have enough material in the dull screenplay that fails to breathe any life into any of the characters […] At a running time of 1 hour and 36 minutes, Mindcage is an anemic, forgettable crime thriller low on suspense, intrigue and atmosphere.” The NYC Movie Guru
“Worst of all is the film’s ending when the copycat is finally revealed. Initially, it made sense, but the extra layers added after the reveal are laughable […] Martin Lawerence cemented his legacy as a comedy icon early in his career. Regretfully, Mindcage fails to create a new image for Lawerence due to a weak script.” C- Reviews and Dunn
” …Mindcage just lethargically shuffles from one overly familiar plot point to the next. The characters aren’t particularly engaging and have little in the way of backstory to help us care about them or what’s happening to them. And for all Keyohara and Borrelli try to liven up the proceedings with voodoo ceremonies what it really needed was stronger characters and a less derivative plot.” 1.5 out of 5, Voices from the Balcony
“Mindcage, at its best, is a movie to watch since you haven’t seen Martin Lawrence in a while and want to see him do something that doesn’t require him to be comedic. At its worse? It’s something to watch to see how good your detective skills are, and while it won’t be put on any pedestal or list for best movie of the year or in an actor’s filmography, it does present enough entertainment to be worth seeing if a fan of anyone involved.” 81% Wherever I Look
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