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A Killer Within

filmster | austin, tx | 04/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A Killer Within is a decent murder mystery. This indie flick isn't the next Million Dollar Baby, but it will keep you entertained for about an hour and half.

The plot is well written and there's a good ensemble cast (C. Thomas Howell, Sean Young and Giancarlo Esposito). The basic premise is that Addison (Howell) is a big-shot lawyer, who comes home one night to find that his wife Becky (Young) has been murdered and his young son is unconscious and badly injured. With the help of his business partner and an ex-cop, Addison goes on a search to find the real killer.

Ben Browder's performance as Addison's business partner is also worth mentioning. Sci-fi buffs will probably recognize Browder from Stargate SG-1 and Farscape.

If you're into murder mysteries, it's definitely worth taking a look at.
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A Killer Within

Lance | Austin, TX | 04/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A Killer Within does a good job of coupling some original surprises with a character-driven plot. No easy feat for sure, and trust me, the script could have easily been turned into a lousy Lifetime Channel movie of the week without the right direction and cast.

Becky Terrill, played by Sean Young, leads the caricatured life of a stereotypical Dallas socialite. Her posh North Dallas house is ridiculous, her Mercedes is pristine and her dependency on alcohol is ravenous. The only thing that seems to bother Becky's Prada-clad existence is her 4 year-old son.

Becky's husband, Addison, played by C. Thomas Howell, is a high-powered corporate attorney with some codependency issues and a raging Dr. Pepper jones. Addison comes home from work to find Becky brutally murdered, apparently at the hands of someone targeting Addison. The lead detective fingers Addison as suspect number one and his investigation basically ends there.

But Addison, who has made some dangerous enemies during his climb to the top of the food chain, has a suspect of his own. In order to find the killer and protect his innocence, Addison reaches into his past and enlists the help of Jesus Vargas, a former cop played with enthusiasm by Giancarlo Esposito. Esposito's performance as the renegade ex-cop is the most authentic in the film. The lawman and the lawyer strike an uneasy alliance as they navigate the seedy side of Dallas in search of Becky's killer.

Director Brad Keller does a masterful job of introducing just about everyone as a suspect and the guessing continues to the very end.
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Ponyboy Curtis is all growns up

Ron Mexico | Atlanta, GA | 04/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A friend of mine, who got this movie in her SXSW schwag bag, lent me a copy of A Killer Within. She said it was pretty good but knew I would like it being a big C. Thomas Howell fan. Honestly, I don't understand some of the negative reviews on this board. No, it wasn't Schindler's List or The Godfather, but what did you expect?

The acting was good. Frankly I'm amazed at the acting chops that "Ponyboy" has developed. Giancarlo Esposito is always good for some tension. The pace, while slow in the beginning, really took off following Sean Young's murder. This movie is definitely worth picking up if you're a fan of murder mysteries or suspense thrillers. If you're looking for Citizen Kane or Chinatown, then you've come to the wrong place.
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A Killer 80's Flashback

John Bender | 04/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is like a reunion for your favorite 80's stars and it takes a step towards resurrecting the careers of once famed actors, C. Thomas Howell and Sean Young. I've been a fan of Howell since he played Ponyboy Curtis in "The Outsiders," so it was cool to see that he's still landing big roles. And though one of my last memories of Sean Young on screen was in "No Way Out," another murder mystery made in the late 80's, she still looks pretty good.

The film stars Howell as Addison Terrill, a successful lawyer with a private practice in Dallas. He returns home one night to find his wife Becky (Young) murdered and his young son in critical condition at the hospital. The police immediately peg Addison as the killer, and it's up to him to clear his own name.

It takes a little while for things to get moving, and as with most murder mysteries, there are a few "twists" that you may see coming. But overall, the movie is pretty suspenseful and there's a last minute surprise that will have you second-guessing who the killer is until the end credits roll.

The acting by both Howell and Young is solid, but the stand out performer is Giancarlo Esposito, who is cast as a street smart, ex-cop that helps Addison track down the real killer. Esposito, who you might not recognize by name but may remember his role as FBI agent, Jack Baer in "The Usual Suspects," is definitely one of the highlights.
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