“Mindcage” (2022)
This Se7en rip off is a deadly sin.
This Se7en rip off is a deadly sin.
Written and directed by Mauro Borrelli (with an additional screenplay writing credit to Reggie Keyohara), I was enticed to watch his lucky seventh stint in the directors chair by Martin Lawrence’s first non-comedic role and my cinematic love for John Malkovich. Both were eclipsed by the shining light from a relative rookie in a mess of a film that has a ridiculous twist before a ludicrous ending, bringing an end to 96 minutes where echoes of the Silence of the Lambs pervade the constant rain and ritualistic killings of Se7en, and a film that shouldn’t even be contrasted or compared with David Fincher’s masterpiece, but which has all the hallmarks of a copycat.
As does the film. The gruesome, devilish and Satanic killings of “The Artist” has a present day copycat and through the constant heavy rain, ritual, artistic, message driven slayings (and a scene in a library straight out of Se7en) we find an older disgruntled and traumatised detective paired with the vibrant, eagerness and inquisitive mind of a younger rookie. Cue several Silence of the Lambs infused battles of the intellect, personalised clues, obvious dead ends, and we have yet more rain, yet more tedium and a preposterous twist to a very forgettable film.
Your undoubted star of the show is the performance from Melissa Roxburgh as the “not ready for this” rookie detective Mary Kelly. Perhaps better known for her roles in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (the books and films have been a rites of passage with my growing son over the years), Roxburgh is outstanding as the tortured soul seeking the redemption desperately sought by her older partner. Sorry to say but Martin Lawrence isn’t very good in this serious/straight role but John Malkovich excels as ever as the caged artist with a tale to tell and a price for his own partial redemption.
The sculpture scene as the film nears its denouement is outstanding yet it still fails at an obvious narrative hurdle and aside from Roxburgh’s performance, the creations of the art department and the set decoration of Ben Robbins, I have very little in the way of recommendation for this film.
It’s not as bad as the recent abomination “White Noise”.
You think they’ll put this on the promotional posters?
Thanks for reading. Just for larks as always, and always a human reaction rather than spoilers galore. My three most recently published film articles are linked below or there’s well over 200 blog articles (with 400+ individual film reviews) within my archives from which to choose:
“Sicario” (2015)
My Denis Villeneuve odyssey is now complete.medium.com
“Babylon” (2022)
End times fun. Without the fun.medium.com
“The Master” (2012)
“We record everything. Throughout all lifetimes”.medium.com