Messages (2007)

A gloomy British mystery with ghostly overtones, starring the sort of folks who usually populate straight-to-DVD sequels of minor hits whose stars refuse to return. In some rural English nowhere, a serial killer is collecting the eyes of his victims in a jamjar, and widowed alcoholic pathologist Dr Murray (Jeff Fahey) is receiving messages from beyond about the case. Because all the victims have some connection with Murray, he looks like a viable suspect to the 'exchange policeman' cowboy cop on the case (Martin Kove) - though everyone else in the film acts suspiciously enough to get in the frame. It's not too troubling to spot the actual killer, but there are a lot of angst-ridden confrontations and hazy flashbacks before we get to the solution, which is compounded by some beyond-the-grave CGI action. Fahey, a prolific leading man in obscure schlock, is a miserable hero, in such drunken stupour throughout that even ghosts can't get him to figure out the transparent whodunit. The mix of American-style exploitation and a genteel English setting is jarring, and a non-stop orchestral score fails to make it exciting or scary.
KIM NEWMAN

First Published In: The Times (issue unknown)

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