This long delayed thriller bypasses cinemas in order to finally hit UK shores on DVD this week and whilst it is all too obvious why it flopped at the US box office, it’s at least watchable.
The premise sees seven elite FBI profilers head to a remote island for an intensive training course. The Feds must complete a simulation to profile a faux serial killer but it soon transpires that someone has corrupted the mission opting instead to kill off the agents one by one. A literal race against time ensues as the remaining agents try to discover the killer’s identity.
Say what you want about Renny Harlin, he may be all about the flash visuals but he normally turns in an entertaining piece of work. Mindhunters has a good cast, a very good take on an unoriginal idea and a number of cool set pieces to entertain you for a good 90 minutes. Where it falters however is in its somewhat clichéd execution which makes it routine in all too short a time.
It does keep you guessing as to who the killer is and its red herrings are pretty subtle which made for a nice change. The deaths are novel and are well executed but in the end the studio interference, numerous setbacks and changes have meant that this is one of those films that will never feel complete.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Mindhunters is a decent rental but it’s not the excellent psychological thriller I was expecting.
