Hangman (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Ken Girotti

Writer:

Vladimir Nemirovsky (writer)

Release Date:

9 February 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Let the Games Begin.

Plot:

Death by noose. A nasty way to die if your not dropped from a length, but instead just had the support kicked from beneath you. A series of murders like this is taking place, linked to a net-based game of hangman, the words of which are linked somehow. Detective Roos (LDP) is on the case. He finds himself drawn to Grace Mitchell (Madchen Amick), who is somehow connected to all of the victims. Hangman is a story of pure vengeance, against everyone who burdened the killers mind.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Murder | Detective | Beret | Ladder

Cast

Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Detective Nick Roos
Mädchen Amick	...	Grace Mitchell
Mark Wilson	...	Det. Sam Baluzy
Vince Corazza	...	Detective Little (as Vincent Corazza)
Robert Haley	...	Dr. Henry Mitchell
Grant Nickalls	...	Paul Jarvis
Rosemary Dunsmore	...	Dr. Natalie Walsh
Stephanie Moore	...	Lynn Farmer
Dan Lauria	...	Captain Gil Roemer
Judah Katz	...	George Kolker
Eric Skye Erickson	...	Dennis Menzer (as Skye Eric Erickson)
Carlos Diaz	...	Officer Peros
Bruce McFee	...	Fred
Ronn Sarosiak	...	Constable Bartok
Andrew Moodie	...	Uniformed Officer

MPAA:

Rated R for language, violence and some strong sexuality.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | USA:R | Sweden:15 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Mainline Releasing

Quotes:

Det. Sam Baluzy: The enemy, if you've forgotten pal, is reasonable doubt.

Movie Connections:

References "Bonanza" (1959)

HANG IT UP

What really had the premise for being a great "who-done-it" mystery, falls flat with a script that waned toward the end. The predictability factor came in heavy around the middle, and the plot of using a dupe to do ones bidding is pretty formulaic. Lou Diamond Phillips, who is a super and intelligent actor, can't carry the picture on his presence alone. Madchen Amick also performs greatly, yet can't save the script, either.

While certainly not a turkey, HANGMAN never realizes its full potential, and the supreme lack of urgency or suspense didn't help. What the viewer is left with is a story that probably sounded good on paper, but fell far short on actual, physical execution. No pun intended. Recommended, but just barely over the mediocre hump.