1/5 Thriller That Doens't Make Much Sense
  by Tsuyoshi (Kyoto, Japan)
Sometimes the production history behind a film is more interesting than the film itself (like, say, "Town and Country"). Even if you don't know "Horsemen," directed by Jonas Åkerlund, ("Spun") went through re-shoots and re-edits, you will know something is wrong with the thriller that has only 90 minutes. Several parts are never explained (and not in the way that will make the film intriguing). The film opens promisingly, but soon loses its way and the wrap-up is terribly rushed. In short, the story of "Horsemen" doesn't make much sense.

Dennis Quaid plays a Detroit police detective Aidan Breslin, whose beloved wife died recently. The hardened detective has to investigate a string of grisly ritualistic serial murders, and he discovers Kristin (Ziyi Zhang), a beautiful daughter of one victim, knows the truths behind the cases.

The film's effective photography captures the cold, chilling atmosphere that perfectly matches the story, and Ziyi Zhang's rather campy acting is kind of attractive, but the storyline remains weak and unfocused throughout, not strong enough to attract the viewers. Cryptic messages left at the crime scenes are not really interesting, neither are the film's biblical references. Dennis Quaid's police detective actually has little to do while investigating. Reliable and talented actors like Clifton Collins Jr. are wasted, or just forgotten.

There are some moments in "Horsemen," where the incredible story shows a sign of improvement as a thriller or a drama. That never happens, however. At the end of the film, you will be left wondering "Did I miss something?" Sadly, no, you didn't.

1/5 Worse than CSI and Criminal Minds combined!
  by L. Evans (The Woodlands, TX USA)
A "B" movie with a normally good main actor. But, that is the GOOD news. The graphic violence is not well documented in many reviews. This is a sick movie without a single redeeming factor. If you choose to watch this movie, please send the kids to bed. The creators of this movie are probably as sick as the movie they created - no doubt for shock value, but, hey, I like Halloween. This is sordid, sick and should be shredded! It could actually help sick people become violent, in my opinion. YUK!

4/5 'Come And See' One Of The Year's Most Under-Rated Movies
  by Stephen B. O'Blenis (Nova Scotia, Canada)
A psychological horror thriller, Horsemen follows detective Aidan Breslin (Dennis Quaid) and other officers on the Detroit police force as they investigate a series of connected brutal murders in which the victims have been tortured to death and the words 'Come And See' are left at the scenes, both goading investigators on and hinting at something bigger yet to come. Breslin, already dark and distant since the death of his wife several years earlier, is drawn into obsession on the case and further away from his increasingly estranged children at home. It's eventually deciphered that the 'Come And See' warning and certain other clues left at the crime scenes tie in with Biblical references to the coming of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Things get weirder as suspects for the killings start emerging - not the people the police thought would be involved with acts this horrific, and as very disturbing facts about the pasts of some of the victims get called into question. Horsemen takes a different route than Saw - Unrated (Two-Disc Special Edition) and other recent horror movies with a torture theme: most (though not all) of the grisliest acts take place largely offscreen, seen in glimpses or in the still shots of crime scene photos, and in the reactions of the characters who come upon the crime scenes, who view video footage that turns up, etc. It fits in well with the air of mystery the movie builds as to who the real killers are, what the ultimate agenda is, and all the other facets of the film that stay largely in the dark until the end. There are major surprise revelations throughout - not just at the end - and the ultimate revelations at the end are dramatic and jolting. With the secrets Horsemen has set itself up to reveal, there are so many ways this movie could have fallen on its face, but it avoids every one of them. A powerful, frightening and very under-rated movie, superbly acted by the whole cast.

3/5 Zi, Quaid and the Swedes
  by J. A. Eyon (Seattle - USA)
I mildly watchable, mildly grotesque whodunnit so full of clichés that vital twists are predictable. I watched it intently, however, for 3 reasons: Zhang Ziyi (in an English language role), Dennis Quaid and the visuals by two Swedes, Jonas Åkerlund (director) and Eric Broms (DP). If it weren't for them, this film would have gotten 2 stars from me.

Dennis has gotten beefier and more eccentric -- and also more effortlessly magnetic. He was in every scene as the relentless detective with family issues -- and, as an actor, he never flagged. So it was quite an accomplishment for Zhang Ziyi, in a much smaller role, to share a few scenes with him and still be memorable.

The rewriting to accommodate her casting was sloppy (primarily, she's too old for the role as written). But that was the fault of the writers. She did wonders with what was given her. And she's sexier in this role than in any other role I've seen her in -- and she spends most of her time heavily covered up.

Ultimately, a disappointing story -- but much of the journey kept promising something better. And, unlike most Hollywood films today, this was a visually pleasing movie (except for the gore, that is).

2/5 Decent movie for the first half, but then...
  by Darren B. O'Connor (Norfolk, Virginia United States)
I picked this up because it looked interesting, Dennis Quaid is a really good actor, and Zhang Ziyi was in it. The movie seemed pretty interesting and enjoyable for the first half, even though it was obviously something of a "Se7en" copycat. I was surprised by the turn involving Zhang Ziyi's character, which was good, since a suspense movie is usually improved when the story has some surprises in store for you. Alas, from that turn, the movie started to go downhill. It was painfully predictable from that point on. (Read no further if don't want spoilers.) I knew just as soon as they set Detective Breslin's (Dennis Quaid's) oldest son Alex up as a very bright, but unmotivated student, and made a point (over and over again) of the fact that Breslin's work keeps him from spending much time with his boys, that the oldest kid was going to be the ringleader of the four murderers who call themselves "The Four Horsemen." At the end, we're obviously supposed to be torn up at the heart-wrenching conclusion, when Breslin discover's what his son has done, and his son suicides in front of him to confront him with his failure as a father. I had almost the opposite reaction. My first thought was "have we really become so self-indulgent as culture, that we are supposed to feel sympathy with someone who commits multiple, horrific torture-murders because his daddy didn't pay him enough attention?!? Are you kidding me!?"

Another problem is that this whole thing just doesn't feel true. Breslin's son really isn't all that believable as a serial killer, given his character background. Perhaps it's just because, thanks to my work, I know too much about them and their usual characteristics. John Doe, in "Se7en" was a believable serial killer, because he was given several characteristics of a psychopath -- which almost all serial killers are, and which is defined as someone who lacks empathy and guilt, who is egocentric and impulsive, who can often convincingly fake the human emotions he lacks, and who does not conform to social norms, conventional morality and society's laws. John Doe was also a classic "mission-oriented" serial killer (as opposed to a lust killer whose crimes sexually gratify him; a hedonistic serial killer, who derives pleasure from killing; or a "visionary" serial killer, who suffers psychotic breaks with reality, and acts out of his delusions). Breslin's son is obviously meant to be a mission oriented serial killer like John Doe was, but again, his history doesn't fit, and his obvious care for his younger brother isn't consistent with a real serial killer's psychopathic personality. Also, almost all serial killers underwent some form of actual abuse, whether physical, sexual, or psychological/emotional as a children, which doesn't apply to Alex either. In fact, nothing in this kid's past is really characteristic of a serial killer. The only character in the film who does have typical serial killer factors in her past is Zhang Ziyi's, but her behavior is more characteristic of male serial killers than the female ones (who almost always have a different MO).

Anyway, this is a movie that started out well, but once it became clear where they were going with it, it quickly lost steam and became just another mediocre copycat picture.