Brigham City (2001)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Richard Dutcher

Writer:

Richard Dutcher (writer)

Release Date:

30 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Nothing attracts a Serpent like a paradise.

Plot:

The sheriff of a small Utah community searches for a serial killer.

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Mormon | Brigham City Utah | Christian | Murder

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Richard Dutcher	...	Sheriff
Matthew A. Brown	...	Terry
Wilford Brimley	...	Stu
Carrie Morgan	...	Peg
Jongiorgi Enos	...	Ed Gray
Tayva Patch	...	Meredith
Jeff Johnson	...	Garcia
Wendy Hoop	...	April
Sterling Brimley	...	Glen
Richard J. Clifford	...	Steve the photographer
Frank Gerrish	...	Ralph
Janice Power	...	Evelyn
Rick Macy	...	Ernie
Jerry North	...	Ivan
Jack North	...	Max

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and thematic material.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Mapleton, Utah, USA

Company:

Main Street Movie Company

Trivia:

Dan Rascone, the man who plays a news reporter in the movie, is actually a reporter with KUTV 2 News in Salt Lake City.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the second Sunday's meetings, the hymn numbers posted on the sign in the background refer to those sung the previous week.

Quotes:

Peg: If she's a blonde, I'm a double D.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in In the Service of God (2003) (V)

Thoughts on Brigham City from a non-Mormon (no spoilers)

First and foremost, Brigham City is a murder mystery. But it's also a story about how a murder can make victims of everyone who lives in a small town that is supposed to be safe.

While Brigham City is set in a predominantly Mormon town in Utah, but it could just have easily been any small town in America and the people could have been of any faith (or none at all). The people of the town feel safe and secure. No one locks they're doors. Everyone knows everyone else. Then their sense of security is shattered by a spree of vicious murders. Suddenly everyone is on his guard and quick to distrust those they have trusted for years.

The plot of Brigham City really has the feel of a traditional Hollywood thriller, the addition of Mormon culture give the film a higher level of depth. While the film is about Mormons and provides some brief glimpses into their beliefs and customs, it does not attempt to convert audience members to the LDS church.

In his second film, Richard Dutcher does an admirable job of bringing this story to the big screen. The film feels more professional and polished than his previous entry (God's Army), but at the same time doesn't feel like the typical Hollywood fare.

What works in this movie is Dutcher's attention to detail and the depth of the characters. I was pleased to see how the violence in the movie was implied rather than shown directly. I was also impressed by the casting of Wilford Brimley. There may have been a commercial reason for him being attached to the film, but his presence gave the film a feeling of familiarity.

Dutcher also makes great use of camera angles and music to cast each person as a suspect. This is also the film's low point, as it is used so much it begins to bog down the story. Non-Mormons may feel that certain points of the movie are a bit too preachy.

All in all, Brigham City is a decent movie. I don't recommend it for younger children, as some of the implied violence may be disturbing, but most people over 13 will probably be drawn into the story the same way you would a traditional Hollywood thriller.

You might ask why I (a non-Mormon) interested in seeing Brigham City. Since I manage the movie theater where the film is playing I wanted to be able to give an informed opinion about the movie. As a movie fan, I was interested to see how Brigham City stood up to other Hollywood and independent films. As a person, I was interested for the glimpse of Mormon culture the film provided.