The Factory (Review)
United States/2011
Netflix Streaming: Yes
Amazon Prime: No
"...but the overall investigation and
experience up to the end is quite enjoyable."
Detectives
Mike Fletcher (John Cusack) and Kelsey Walker (Jennifer Carpenter) have
been aggressively searching for a serial killer and abductor of
prostitutes. The elusive Gary Gemeaux (Dallas Roberts) only hunts during
the winter, which makes him difficult to track. When his daughter is
abducted, Fletcher becomes obsessed with the case and excuses the law
from his investigation...
The Factory continues with the
investigation. You know who the killer is from the beginning, but you
slowly learn his sinister intentions. It's somewhat a two-sided
investigation, although one outweighs the other; Fletcher's
investigation is more hard boiled and emotional, while Walker attempts a by-the-books investigation. Either way, it is interesting and
immersive, even if it's not all too original. The film's ending is
unexpected, but for all of the wrong reasons; the twist isn't set-up
properly and is ineffective -- the hints aren't actually hints, and the
obligatory flashback/hint montage sequence at the end is reaching.
I
like the dark style of the film. It keeps a gritty vibe and dark
atmosphere throughout. There is some strong violence, but it's not
incredibly graphic or disturbing. The investigation is interesting,
which is good since it dominates the runtime. Although the ending is
reaching, I like the dark vibe and anti-Hollywood approach -- every film
doesn’t need a "happily ever after" ending. My main problem with the
film, aside from the unjustified twist, is the annoying cast of
characters; there are several characters in this film that are annoying,
bi-polar, and overly-emotional, which makes them hard to root for; some
of their actions are jaw-dropping stupid and unexplainable.
John
Cusack is great as the lead -- he has some great moments of
overwhelming emotion. Jennifer Carpenter is solid, despite her character
having one of those annoying bi-polar moments. Dallas Roberts is
perfect, he's really infuriating with his sinister performance. The
cinematography is great in capturing the dark atmosphere, and the music
compliments the vibe. The writing is mostly by-the-books, but it
features an interesting investigation and case; a little more character
depth, and more logical characters, would've' been beneficial.
Overall,
The Factory is a great crime thriller. The far-reaching twist and
annoying characters hurt the film, but the overall investigation and
experience up to the end is quite enjoyable. It's not Se7en, but that's
no reason to miss this film. I recommend a purchase for fans of the
genre, a rental otherwise.
Score: 7/10
Parental Guide: Strong violence and blood.
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