The Minus Man (1999)

60% of critics liked it
(35 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(3,876 ratings)

Notable as the directorial debut of Blade Runner co-scripter Hampton Fancher, this darkly comic thriller stars affable Owen Wilson as Vann Siegert, a different brand of serial killer: one who actually believes he's doing his deeply depressed victims a service of mercy. Wandering up the West Coast,… More Notable as the directorial debut of Blade Runner co-scripter Hampton Fancher, this darkly comic thriller stars affable Owen Wilson as Vann Siegert, a different brand of serial killer: one who actually believes he's doing his deeply depressed victims a service of mercy. Wandering up the West Coast, Vann chooses victims from a parade of colorful social misfits -- including a haggard junkie (singer Sheryl Crow) whose pain he ends with a nip from his flask of poison amaretto -- and expounds on his motives with a pocket tape recorder (a drawling monologue that serves as the film's narrative voice-over). A brief layover in Owensville eventually finds Vann in the company of quarreling middle-aged couple Doug and Jane (Brian Cox and Mercedes Ruehl), who grow fond of the young drifter's amiable demeanor and take him on as a boarder. After landing a job at the local post office, Vann catches the eye of co-worker Ferrin (Janeane Garofalo), and a tentative romance blossoms -- but even love can't distract Vann from his crusade to terminate people's unhappiness: "They come to me like moths, because I shine," he explains. Though not the complex psychological game it purports to be, The Minus Man is an intriguing character study -- imagine a kindler, gentler version of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer -- with some clever twists and fine performances, including a touching portrayal from the usually acerbic Garofalo. Geared more to the art-movie crowd than to fans of Hitchcockian thrills, this film opened to raves at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Hampton Fancher
Written By: Hampton Fancher
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Sep 10, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Oct 17, 2000
Studio: Artisan Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Anton Bitel, Film4
A sociopathic serial poisoner provides everyone with the nihilistic zero they need in this intelligent and disheartening dramatic thriller for Generation Blank.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A powerful performance by Wilson....and believe me, you've never seen him like this!
Fred Topel, About.com
Horrible character piece. Nothing happens and you don't care why.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Leigh R

Okay...
Jens S

A very disappointing attempt of a psychological thriller about a murderer in the shape of a regular guy. While Owen Wilson turns out be be very convincing despite of his comedy background, and the rest of the cast is pretty good too, somehow the movie just isn't very interesting.… More
A very disappointing attempt of a psychological thriller about a murderer in the shape of a regular guy. While Owen Wilson turns out be be very convincing despite of his comedy background, and the rest of the cast is pretty good too, somehow the movie just isn't very interesting. The killer poisons one victim after the other rather randomly and yet nothing exciting happens. No suspense, no surprises, just a few rather odd scenes of imaginary dialogues with policemen. Boring.
Jason S

A creepy movie about a serial killer.
Naughtia N

In this movie Owen Wilson stars as a cold-blooded serial killer who travels around the country in order to choose victims who complain about their lives and talk about all their misery. When the killer comes to a new small town where he gets to stay at a unhappily married couple, he… More
In this movie Owen Wilson stars as a cold-blooded serial killer who travels around the country in order to choose victims who complain about their lives and talk about all their misery. When the killer comes to a new small town where he gets to stay at a unhappily married couple, he just waits to find his next victim. He sees ghosts who taunt his concience and he later starts a relationship with a woman from his job. It was very interesting seeing Wilson in this kind of character and I think it suited him well. He expresses this kind of innocence. Very interesting movie.
Kevin L

This movie is so lame.
Leo L

I first saw this movie in 2000, I thought it was good then. I just seen it again today for a better clarity of the movie, and I have to say it was pretty good. Low-key. But, fairly well. Great cast- Owen Wilson, Brian, Dennis Haysbert, and Janeane Garofalo.