The Glimmer Man (1996)

13% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(20,274 ratings)

Two cops with almost nothing in common find themselves brought together to capture a psychotic murderer in this action thriller. Jack Cole (Steven Seagal) was once a government intelligence operative known as "The Glimmer Man," because he could move so quickly and quietly that his victims would only… More Two cops with almost nothing in common find themselves brought together to capture a psychotic murderer in this action thriller. Jack Cole (Steven Seagal) was once a government intelligence operative known as "The Glimmer Man," because he could move so quickly and quietly that his victims would only see a glimmer before they died. Having left international espionage behind him, Cole -- steeped in Eastern mysticism and not used to working with others -- has become a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he's paired up with Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans), a tough, no-nonsense cop with a weakness for weepy movies (Casablanca is one of his favorites) and little patience for Cole's New Age philosophies and outsider attitude. Cole and Campbell have to set aside their differences when they're assigned to track down a serial killer the press has dubbed "The Family Man," for his habit of dispatching entire households at once. However, when the Family Man's latest victims turn out to be Cole's former wife and her current husband, Campbell learns about Cole's secret past, and they both think that Cole's former bosses may somehow be involved with this current crime wave. Leading man Seagal also wrote and played guitar on several blues-based songs that appear on the film's soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: John Gray
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Oct 4, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Aug 27, 1997
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Richard Harrington, Washington Post
The plot of The Glimmer Man involves not only the Family Man but Our Evil Secret Government, the Russian Mafia and Rich Powerful Politicians -- the three stooges of action cinema in the '90s.
Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times
Most of the action scenes occur in the dark and are so heavily edited, it's hard to know whose limbs and faces are being splintered by Cole.
John Hartl, Film.com
Just as foolish and formulaic as it sounds.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
All-in-all, what we have here is 'classic' Seagal. And that means, for anyone who isn't an admitted fan, an uninspired outing.
Sean Means, Film.com
A brutish action movie that is as improbable as it is annoying.
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
Subtract the gruesomeness, the language and some nekkid stuff, and the film is indistinguishable from an episode of a TV cop show.
, Time Out
Although this slick Seagal action pic won't convert die-hard detractors, aficionados will note that he's both gained weight and lightened up.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Keenen Ivory Wayans is so much more interesting, lively, and fun than Seagal you wish that he were the star of the film.
Dale Winogura, Boxoffice Magazine
A lean and mean exploitation thriller, The Glimmer Man might not be original or memorable, but the goods are delivered with reasonable flair and efficiency.
, E! Online
There's no shortage of action.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
Your average five-year-old could have constructed a plot with fewer holes in it.
David Eimer, Empire Magazine
Sadly, the surprisingly podgy Seagal spends far too much time contemplating and not enough time kicking Russian butt.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Phil H

Got a love/hate relationship with Seagal and his films, on one hand they are all completely nonsense of the highest order and rarely any good (unless your a Seagal fan of course). Its the same old formula with Seagal, ALWAYS being some kind of special forces guy or elite police force… More
Got a love/hate relationship with Seagal and his films, on one hand they are all completely nonsense of the highest order and rarely any good (unless your a Seagal fan of course). Its the same old formula with Seagal, ALWAYS being some kind of special forces guy or elite police force guy or ex-military guy etc...and called upon to save the good old US of A from nasty villains, always taking it very easy in the process (I've never really seen the guy run much during the action), always looks the same and always uses an obvious stunt double for everything lol! On the other hand you can't complain because like JCVD or Arnie his films do what they say on the tin and everyone knows what to expect, if you don't like this type of film then you obviously don't watch. Many do watch because Seagal is one of the old 80's action man pack and does provide your daily fix of gratuitous violence and bloodshed. This is probably one of his last better offerings before he got too fat and entered into the 'straight to DVD hell' of seemingly no return. We see Seagal in all his glory, providing his own wardrobe I assume as I have gotten the impression over the years he insists on wearing his 'ethnic' attire no matter what role he plays lol! I think he likes to be seen as a spiritual warrior of the East. The action is predictable as is the plot and the characters are your typical mismatched duo with the obligatory unfunny quips from Wayans. Its basically the same old Seagal in the same old role doing the same old shit with the same old stunt double, guys run at Seagal, he touches them, they throw themselves head over heels through a window. To be honest I never knew how or why Seagal managed to get into action films as the guy displays the least amount of action I've ever seen in an action film, but I guess some like his stuff and this isn't too bad, just don't expect any surprises.
Derek D

A bit darker than most buddy-cop genre films, but the teaming of Seagal and Wayans does work in many ways. The movie moves along too fast at times and a bit slower at others, but this was the last truly halfway-decent film Seagal made (with the exception of Into The Sun). It's… More
A bit darker than most buddy-cop genre films, but the teaming of Seagal and Wayans does work in many ways. The movie moves along too fast at times and a bit slower at others, but this was the last truly halfway-decent film Seagal made (with the exception of Into The Sun). It's not Rush Hour, true, but thank God it's not becuase if Wayans was even half as annoying (and unfunny) as Chris Tucker, then I would've thrown this DVD into the fireplace before the classroom scene.
EightThirty .

U gotta check this one out...It's way Cool!!
Khris N

Much more action thriller than all out action - would make a good decent THRILLER with a story line like this - but its a Seagal flick and thats the way it is. The plot is kinda twisted but it has some good polish to it - it can be used for a good cop thriller with a top notch cast… More
Much more action thriller than all out action - would make a good decent THRILLER with a story line like this - but its a Seagal flick and thats the way it is. The plot is kinda twisted but it has some good polish to it - it can be used for a good cop thriller with a top notch cast and director and you might get something pretty good. But then again, Seagal is pretty good, at the midway of his hollywood fame, before he went B grade. Seagal and Wayans (theres a million wayans in the industry!) play two cops on the trail of a serial killer, but along they way, they get caught up in a smuggling operation with big power brokers and and hefty bad guys. So then comes the hefty Seagal and hefty violence - butt kicking at its best. i never really got Seagal's fashion sense, and this movie is no exception. His clothes are very....... trendy, which kinda offest the whle movie - then throw in his buddhist beads for some spiritual enlightenment..... right...... but its cool. All that is made up for with his nifty credit card knife and plenty more to cover the little dodgy things in the flick. :-) Seagal fans only.
danny d

good flick
Stuart B

I hate you Steven
Steven V

Ok action flick but mostly I thought alot of scence were very funny. Worth watching. Bit gory but at least there is a half decent story in it rather than the usual rubbish movie from him.
Yinalí R

I guess it was kind of entertaining.
Lee K

Not a bad flick, one of the last i watched Seagal in before his movies became "b" like