The Collector (2009)

Desperate to repay his debt to his ex-wife, an ex-con plots a heist at his new employer's country home, unaware that a second criminal has also targeted the property, and rigged it with a series of deadly traps.

Director:

Marcus Dunstan

Writers:

Patrick Melton (screenplay), Marcus Dunstan (screenplay)

Stars:

Josh Stewart, Andrea Roth, Juan Fernández

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Prael	...	Larry Wharton
Diane Ayala Goldner	...	Gena Wharton
Juan Fernández	...	The Collector
Josh Stewart	...	Arkin
Michael Reilly Burke	...	Michael Chase
Andrea Roth	...	Victoria Chase
Karley Scott Collins	...	Hannah Chase
Madeline Zima	...	Jill Chase
Haley Pullos	...	Cindy (as Haley Alexis Pullos)
Daniella Alonso	...	Lisa
Patrick Rizzotti	...	Bowling Ball Cleaner
Jayme Suzonne Riser	...	Bar Dancer
Krystal Mayo	...	Bar Dancer (as Krystal Dawn Mayo)
Michele Diane Pate	...	Bar Dancer
Nicole Antranette Fisher	...	Bar Dancer

Storyline

When the Chase family moves to an isolated house in the middle of nowhere in Detroit, Arkin is hired to fix the windows and the doors. Later he meets his daughter and his wife that has a debt with dangerous sharks and needs money, but his week payment is not enough to pay her debts. Arkin plots to heist the safe of Michael Chase during the night to raise the necessary money. However, when he arrives in the house, he finds that a sadistic criminal has imprisoned the family and planted traps everywhere. Arkin seeks a way out of the deadly house to save his life.

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Plot Keywords:

trap | masked killer | slasher | burglar | home invasion | 

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Taglines:

He always takes one

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive sadistic bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Midnight Man

Filming Locations:

Mobile, Alabama, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,576,296, 2 August 2009

Gross USA:

$7,712,114

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,234,475

Company Credits

Production Co:

LD Entertainment, Fortress Features, Imaginarium Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally set-up and financed by Dimension Films, "The Collector" was dropped by the cash-strapped studio after they didn't have the funds to release the film. Lidell Entertainment snatched up the rights from Dimension and gave the film a brief, but successful, theatrical run in 2009.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 23 mins) In the ambulance, when the collector is cutting the hero out of his restraints, the hero has shoes on when he should be barefoot.

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Quotes

Arkin: Stupid fucking cat!

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Crazy Credits

Special No Thanks - The guy who tried to blow up Joe's bar and whoever stole Karlak's watch

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Connections

Edited into The Collection (2012)

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Soundtracks

Hydra
Written by Andrew Reed
Performed by Patient 113

User Reviews

I'll give this an A for effort. It has a lot going for it to make this well worth seeing

I've been a fool. I tried watching this a few years ago, and couldn't finish it. That inkling to give it another go just wouldn't go away. Well. Guess what? Not only did I watch the whole movie, but I wound up digging it for the most part! The comparisons to the Saw franchise are apt, I suppose. But the Saw series started to become redundant. The Collector is much more than just another cash-in attempt to make some coin. Director Marcus Dunstain clearly had a vision with this one. The killer in this one is not someone that asks questions. Jigsaw was a nasty individual as well, but he had a motive for doing what he was doing, a reason if you will. The Collector (Creepily played by Juan Fernandez) just likes to hurt people. He's gleefully psychotic and kills people in the most sickening ways imaginable for his own demented pleasures. There is no background on this guy, and that makes him all the more terrifying. In some ways that could have worked against it, but I didn't feel it was needed here, and added to the atmosphere. The gore scenes deliver. I won't spoil them, but gore hounds will be replenished for their thirst. My only real carps are I wish the finale went on a tad longer, and that is was hard to make out what was going in a couple scenes because I had trouble seeing. It was a bit too dark. William Prael plays for a very good reluctant hero. His desperation had me rooting for him. I enjoyed him a lot

Final Thoughts: Sometimes a second viewing does wonders. It sure did with the Collector. It's not perfect, but it's a highly suspenseful thrill ride that lacks the budget of a Saw, but is arguably better than a lot of the Saw sequels. Recommended. I'm looking forward to The Collection!

6.5/10