Slaughter of the Innocents

there is not a single thing about this movie that is believable. More plot holes than you can count. Scott Glenn is somewhat miscast as an FBI agent. Plus, the do-good mentality of the movie is somewhat a put-off. Finally, the female character, Lamar, is very odd. She does not dress like any federal agent has ever dressed, except perhaps at Holloween. Some weird clown-tie and overcoat getup. Whose idea was that? Beyond stupid. This was filmed in 1994. computers of that day could barely turn on, much less do what this movie shows. It is interesting to compare this to Crimminal Minds. Still, it is a one of a kind movie, and so should be seen just for that.

Scott Glenn fresh off his role in 'Silence of the Lambs' turns up in the 'Slaughter of the Innocent' with a box cover holding a shotgun and an ominous tone. Didn't have to do anything more to get a rental from me. Then just like everyone else, I come to find this serial killer pic dragged down by a left field child element. 20+ years later hasn't done much to dull an odd mix of serious & silly.

FBI Agent Stephen Broderick (Glenn) is alerted to inconsistencies in a solved case by his young son Jesse (Jesse Cameron-Glickenhaus) just as the convicted is about to be sentenced to death. Stephen is too late to save the man, but it's conclusively proven after the fact he was innocent. Mordecai (Zitto Kazann) continues his insane religious crusade to recreate Noah's Ark as both father & son close in.

The credit sequence, intro murder is dated, but also effective in being creepy. Followed up with the son in question typing out details of a murder at a computer surrounded by other gizmos. Not the picture of a healthy innocent 12 year old and it continues ramping up throughout the movie. If you can put this massive piece of believability aside then comes the requisite cliches and overblown theatrics.

A lot of reviewers like to zero in the nepotism going on between writer / director father and actor son. It's not unwarranted, but the real issue is the story top to bottom. Even actor Glenn - a total pro - has to fight to look comfortable in scenes where his kid talks to him about heavy stuff. Well shot all things considered, but a letdown otherwise. Sheila Tousey (Thunderheart) fellow FBI, Kevin Sorbo a stuffy bureaucrat at the Agency and in an early role Aaron Eckhart as a gung-ho SWAT team leader.

A better-than-many serial killer movie. I liked it well enough to see it twice on cable and even to recommend it. I found it dark and brooding. The acting was more than acceptable and, although the genius of the child was, perhaps, not completely credulous, it also wasn't totally unbelievable. The build up to the finale was well planned and the last fifteen minutes kept me on the edge of my seat.

The story has... well... huge holes! But the relationship between father and son made this movie worth watching!!

The young actor, Jesse, has alot of natural talent and is surprisingly believable in his role as this self-assured young man.

So, set aside reality, get out a large dose of salt and enjoy.

I think Scott Glenn could have easily handled this serial killer movie by himself, and "Slaughter of the Innocents" would have been better off for it. The nepotism casting of James Glickenhausus's own son, into a script that didn't need him, is the main problem with this seriously flawed film. Everything involving the kid is totally unbelievable and an insult to the audience's intelligence. At times I don't mind suspending realism for sake of a story, but here it's ridiculous. A kid flies to Salt Lake City on his own, intimidates an adult zoo employee into revealing incriminating information, and manages to use his computer to locate the killer's hideout. There is never any clue how this boy wonder travels all over Utah, other than stealing a mountain bike. Sure the flying ark at the end is kind of intriguing, but getting there is a real brain drain of logic. - MERK