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"SUSPECT ZERO" (2004) (Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Heavy Extreme *Moderate Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor Minor Extreme None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor Moderate Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Suspense/Thriller: An FBI agent tries to figure out the identity of a serial killer and why he seems to be purposefully involving him. PLOT: Thomas Mackelway (AARON ECKHART) is an FBI agent who's reassigned to Albuquerque from Dallas after roughing up suspect Raymond Starkey and improperly taking him across state lines. It's not long before he's called to duty and must investigate a number of murders, including that of Starkey. Soon, his former professional and romantic partner, Fran Kulock (CARRIE-ANNE MOSS), is assigned to the case and the two begin looking for clues leading to the perpetrator's identity. Among them are those that point to Benjamin O'Ryan (BEN KINGSLEY), a clairvoyant who claims to be a former FBI agent. He seems to be targeting Thomas with information regarding the murders, and the latter soon learns that the man once held a theory that there might one day be a "suspect zero" killer who manages to avoid leaving any identifying clues and could possibly make his way across the country killing people without being caught. With the number of murdered adults and missing children increasing, Thomas and Fran race against time to catch the killer or killers and must figure out what O'Ryan's involvement in both crimes may or may not be. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into serial killer and/or suspense thriller films, or are fans of someone in the cast, they might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For violent content, language and some nudity. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: AARON ECKHART plays a demoted FBI agent who finds himself on a serial murder case where the perpetrator seems to be purposefully involving him. He uses some strong profanity. BEN KINGSLEY plays a clairvoyant man who claims to be a former FBI agent, kills some bad people, uses some strong profanity and may or may not be the suspect in Thomas' case. CARRIE-ANNE MOSS plays Thomas' former FBI partner and lover who joins him on the serial murderer case. She briefly uses strong profanity. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated suspense thriller. Profanity consists of at least 9 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present, as are various crudely drawn sketches of female nudity, and a woman's bare breasts are seen in a rape scene (that includes some suggested movement). Other violence includes seen and off-screen murders and deaths, at the hands of both the good guys and bad guys. Some of that material may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers, while some of it has bloody and/or gory results. Various bad attitudes are obviously present as are some tense family moments for survivors of murder or abduction victims. Some brief drinking and smoking also occurs. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, some of the film's camera work may just bring that on for some viewers. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE An anti-drug poster has text about "shooting up." Miscellaneous people smoke and drink in a bar and a young woman orders a seven and seven, but the bartender wants to see her I.D. BLOOD/GORE We briefly see a dead man and then see a shot of his face that shows his bloody and protruding eyeballs (we then hear that his eyelids were cut off). We see photos of a dead man's face where the eyelids have been cut out (some blood and redness are around the bulging eye). Thomas discovers a dead body in a trunk where the man's eyelids have been cut out (with bloody results) and there's a large and bloody circle cut into his bare back (along with other bloody cuts marks). We see a black and white photo of a person who appears to have some sort of neck wound. We see a few small bloody scrapes on a woman's chest. We see a dead man sans eyelids (with bloody results) and bloody cuts on his bare chest. We see some photos on the wall of murder victims who have bloody wounds. We later see more such photos showing bruises and burn marks on other victims. We see some flash images of bloody victims. Thomas discovers a trunk full of somewhat mummified human remains (we see the face of one). We hear and then see O'Ryan coughing over a disgusting looking toilet (suggesting he has or is about to vomit). We see a blackened hand (presumably of a child) sticking up from a shallow grave among many such piles of dirt at a farm. Thomas has some bloody scrapes on his face. O'Ryan has some blood on his face and neck. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The various killers, sexual predators and child abductors obviously have bad attitudes. Thomas illegally enters a woman's house to look for clues (he lets himself back in after she leaves). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Others may find it somewhat suspenseful, or not at all. As a man leaves a diner, we see a car pull out behind and then follow him at night. We see the headlights pass him, but the man then sees a man putting on gloves in the backseat who then talks menacingly toward him. It's implied that the man kills the driver (we later hear he was strangled). We see a semi following two boys on bikes and then see one abandoned bike (suggesting that at least one of the boys was abducted). We see a shrunken head or devil like mask hanging on a wall. A sexual predator follows a woman out to her car, grabs, struggles with and takes her away in a pickup truck (we see her feet kicking as he lifts her off the ground). Moments later, we see him struggling with her and he repeatedly bangs her head against the dash to stun and control her. We then hear a zipper sound and he gets on top of her, apparently raping her. We then see the silhouette of O'Ryan at the window that he then breaks, grabbing the predator and pulling him out. He then repeatedly kicks that man on the ground and then tells the woman to look away as he pulls out a knife. We don't see any impact, but it's implied that he kills him. We see a brief image of body bags on the ground (reportedly of children). A cop pulls over O'Ryan and some viewers may worry what O'Ryan will do to him (he ends up aiming a handgun at him). Thomas slowly enters and makes his way through a place with his gun drawn. We hear various screams on the soundtrack. Thomas spots a kid in a semi that abruptly turns around in traffic. Thomas then pursues the truck to a carnival where he frantically searches for the boy. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Knife: Used to threaten or kill others. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "What the f*ck /are you doing/were you thinking?" "What a f*cking freak," "F*ck you," "Bullsh*t," "Horsesh*t," "Slick," "Crappy," "You son of a bitch," "What the hell is that?" "Scumbag" and "Piss." JUMP SCENES A hand suddenly shows up on a diner's window. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 9 "f" words (1 used sexually), 3 "s" words, 2 hells, 1 crap, 1 damn, 1 S.O.B. and 1 use each of "G-damn" and "Christ." SEX/NUDITY O'Ryan asks an intended target about the man's wife, "You missing f*cking her, Harold?" We briefly see a crude drawing/sketch that appears to be that of a nude girl or woman (but little details are visible). We see a headline that reads "Teen sex killing." A flashback to one of Thomas's previous cases involves a teen sex predator. During that, we see a quick shot of a woman who shows some cleavage, as well as one where a teen girl lies (clothed) in front of the predator. The camera focuses on a woman's clothed butt (in her tight pants) and we then see her wearing a low-cut top. A sexual predator follows and abducts her. We then hear a zipper sound and he gets on top of her, apparently raping her (we see some slight movement as well as a brief view of her bare breasts). We see a crude sketch/drawing that looks like it might be that of female genitals. We see a crude sketch/drawing of a nude woman or girl that shows the crotch and chest area (but with no graphic details). More crude drawings/sketches appear to show bare breasts and a butt. O'Ryan says that other men he's threatened have offered sexual gratification in exchange for a few more minutes of life. SMOKING Miscellaneous people smoke in a bar. TENSE FAMILY SCENES It's implied that Fran is divorced. We see two scenes featuring the grieving widow of a murder victim. We see a distraught mother right after her son has disappeared. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Serial killers. The FBI and its purpose. VIOLENCE In a flashback, Thomas holds a gun on a predator, throws or knocks him out onto the ground, slams his head onto a car trunk and then throws him down inside it. A sexual predator follows a woman out to her car, grabs, struggles with and takes her away in a pickup truck (we see her feet kicking as he lifts her off the ground). Moments later, we see him struggling with her and he repeatedly bangs her head against the dash to stun and control her. We then hear a zipper sound and he gets on top of her, apparently raping her. We then see the silhouette of O'Ryan at the window that he then breaks, grabbing the predator and pulling him out. He then repeatedly kicks that man on the ground and then tells the woman to look away as he pulls out a knife. We don't see any impact, but it's implied that he kills him. We see a vision of Thomas holding a gun to O'Ryan's head and we hear a shot, but don't see any impact. Two cops briefly hold their guns on Thomas. We see a vision of Thomas and O'Ryan struggling, hear the sound of a gunshot and see O'Ryan slump to the ground. It's suggested that O'Ryan knocks out Thomas who then awakens handcuffed with O'Ryan menacingly threatening him with a knife (and loudly yelling at him). Thomas chases after a fleeing semi truck in his SUV. He eventually pulls up alongside it on a dirt road, but the SUV rolls over and crashes, while the semi slowly tips over. Thomas chases after a suspect through the rocky desert. The man then tackles Thomas to the ground and repeatedly punches him. Thomas then gets the upper hand and repeatedly pummels the man's face and chest. He then raises a large rock above his head and brings it down on the man's face (but we don't see the impact). O'Ryan holds a gun to Thomas's chin. A man makes another man hold a gun to his head, wanting him to kill him. When that man won't, the other man pulls a knife and a third person then shoots the knife-wielding man dead. Reviewed August 25, 2004 / Posted August 27, 2004