Weekly Review -- The clearest of visions

Solace (2015) -- There has not been an intriguing serial killer film in years. Apart from the Saw atrocities and engaging works like Zodiac, the subgenre has mostly taken a leave of absence. Enter Afonso Poyart's Solace, an unfairly underrated thriller with a great cast, some unexpected twists and developments that will leave you thinking for days.

Detective Joe Merriwether (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his partner, Dr. Katherine Cowles (Abbie Cornish), are on the trail of a killer who has already claimed three victims. Desperate for clues, Joe calls his old colleague John Clancy (Anthony Hopkins), a clairvoyant doctor who became a recluse following a family tragedy. As Clancy gets familiar with the case and reviews evidence, he realizes that the killer, Charles Ambrose (Colin Farrell), is an even more powerful psychic...

The visual style of Solace is unique and a perfect fit for the story. From Clancy's multiple visions of the players to the morbidly stylistic crime scenes, the film reminded me of Tarsem Singh's The Cell on occasion, particularly with crimson and neons dominating the palette. I love the idea of flashbacks and visions as pieces of a puzzle and I am glad that Poyart does not hand everything to the audience on a silver platter. He does not make assumptions about the characters and the narrative; rather, he subverts our expectations and steers us from what we think we know. The moral dilemma that Poyart places in the centre of the story -- one that I am not going to spoil for anyone -- adds a thoughtful dimension. This element and the visual effects make the film dip into surrealism and it is due to these aspects that this is not a by-the-numbers crime thriller.

The cast is well chosen. Hopkins traverses the line between pure hurt and pure determination. Clancy has been through a lot, with his powers being an obvious nightmare at times, and Hopkins examines his melancholy while finding the intellect that the case requires. Morgan is steady and reliable as Joe and his last scene is truly remarkable to watch. Cornish's character barely does anything except philosophize about her experience and the case, which is a shame because Cowles and Clancy's dialogues are fascinating. The two characters share a love of science, yet Clancy's viewpoint is enhanced by his clairvoyance, a trait that Cowles is sharply skeptical of. This connection should have been explored further, since it could have made for the crux of the film. As Ambrose, Farrell shows us his villainous side and it is a side that should be given more chances to shine. Ambrose is sleek, his psychosis sophisticated in its conviction, and Farrell plays his contradictions to perfection. 

Solace is a predicament of the highest caliber and a riddle for the viewer to solve. The humanity of the questions that it poses is matched by the symbolism of the murders, layering the story and creating a distinct subgenre piece. It is worth your time and your contemplation.

7/10