Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, Carrie-Anne Moss

If you're into serial-killer thrillers, you'll want to see Suspect Zero if only to soak up the genre's reliable penchant for creepy atmosphere and creepier behavior. Dark, anguished, and satura...( read more  read more... )ted with superficial style, it's a passable exercise in mystery from E. Elias Merhige, who fared better (both critically and artistically) with his acclaimed 2001 film Shadow of the Vampire. The directorial vision evident in that film is also apparent here, but it's pretentiously over-indulged in a grisly plot about the tormented victim of a secret, psychically abusive crime-fighting program (Ben Kingsley) whose pursuit of serial killers in New Mexico is designed to lure a similarly tormented FBI agent (Aaron Eckhart) and his understanding partner (Carrie-Anne Moss) into an investigation that grows increasingly violent and tragically intense. Like Eckhart's character, you may need a handful of aspirin after subjecting yourself to Merhige's visual excess, but as yet another variant of Seven, Suspect Zero scores points for attempting something different. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

47% liked it

2,593 ratings

Critics

17% liked it

127 critics

R, 99 min.

Directed by: E. Elias Merhige

Release Date: August 27, 2004

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DVD Release Date: April 12, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (477)


  • August 13, 2008
    Why I like this movie: ts a dark suspense thriller with a coupla "not so brutal" scenes, CIA & FBI is in it, and

    Ben Kingsley was just awesome in this movie! You must simply have this on your movie collection!
  • May 15, 2008
    A good serial killer thriller. Ben Kingsley really makes this movie work with his very creepy performance.
  • April 4, 2008
    A very enjoyable watch with a great performance from Ben Kingsley. A well thought out plot, definitely a recommendation.
  • July 25, 2007
    Sounded good, the idea of psychic profilers tracking serial killers but the execution of the film is pretty bad. Could have been great.
  • September 21, 2006
    A more dull then razor sharp thriller. not in top form or diection. it fails to develop its characters and story in general so its only half a movie. Ben Kingslely on the other hand delivers a riveting performance.
  • October 31, 2009
    Very good suspense/thriller. It has kind of an odd theme. Remote Viewing, which is something I knew nothing about, and it made it difficult for me to get fully into the movie. However, after viewing the bonus features, I found out there really was a secret Remote Viewing project...( read more), in the military for nearly 20 years. It was not used for Serial Killers, as in the movie. It's actually kind of fascinating!

    As for the movie, Suspect Zero is very suspenseful, creepy and keeps you guessing! Great performances by Ben Kingsley and Aaron Eckhart.

    I think I would like to see a movie on the real use of remote viewing, and perhaps a better movie on the tracking of serial killers. Perhaps by a demented killer himself... I'm just sayin'
  • September 23, 2009
    I can relate in more ways you can imagine.
  • August 22, 2009
    "I know what you're thinking. "Pain is coming. Will I take it like a man?" Well, let me put you at ease. You won't."

    I actually thought this was a pretty good film. A competent thriller despite it's terrible reviews. See for yourself I suppose; it's not something I would ...( read more)want to watch again because it's subject is so horrible, but I definitely enjoyed it whilst watching it.

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  • August 20, 2009
    Eckhart is chasing Kingsley who may be a serial killer or may be chasing a serial killer himself, or may be some Government experiment. It's a Seven clone but crap. Turns out the "actual" serial killer has killed over a hundred people and buried them in a few acres under really s...( read more)hallow ground which has never been discovered. I would write more but just dredging up the memory of this film is making me lose the will to live.
  • August 17, 2009
    Despite a good cast, this movie fails miserably.

Critic Reviews


August 28, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Its junkiness shines through its posh patina. Exploitation is just no fun anymore, now that it's all so damn tasteful. full review

August 27, 2004
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

A violent, depressing and often ridiculous waste of time. full review

August 27, 2004
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

[A] pretentiously made and excruciatingly dull thriller. full review

August 27, 2004
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Suspect Zero may be nonsense but at least it's not bland nonsense. full review

August 27, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Too devised and elaborate to really engage us. full review

August 26, 2004
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Perhaps a better title for this mess would have been Avenging Angels in America or, better yet, The Silence of the Logic. full review

August 26, 2004
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A strangely flat and ploddingly formulaic mystery. full review

July 5, 2004
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Serial killer film flops are a dime a dozen, and Suspect Zero--a supernatural-tinged rehash of countless superior thrillers--is worth slightly less than a penny. full review

View more Suspect Zero reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • starlimitz2
    April 8, 2007
    I saw this in theaters with my Dad. We both absolutely loved the subject matter of Remote Viewing, and we both fell directly into the fantasy of the entire spiel! This movie is recommended for those with a taste for the demented!

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Suspect Zero Trivia


  • In this movie a Remote Viewer believe's there is one person who can avoide detection. And he is and killing young boys at random locations all over the US.  Answer »
  • Name the movie in which Ben Kingsley portrays a cop looking for a serial killer?  Answer »
  • WHO PLAYED THE SERIAL KILLER IN THE MOVIE SUSPECT ZERO?  Answer »

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