Movie Type: Police Detective Film, Psychological Thriller
Themes: Psychic Abilities, Serial Killers, Vigilantes
Main Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, Carrie-Anne Moss, Harry J. Lennix
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Directed by E. Elias Merhige, Suspect Zero follows the disgraced FBI Agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart), who was transferred to a desolate area in Albuquerque, New Mexico as punishment for botching a procedure which ultimately led to the release of one of the most notorious criminals on the FBI's list. Mackelway is given an opportunity to redeem himself, however, when he is called in to investigate the strange murder of a traveling salesman. Mysteriously, the mark of a circle with a line through it is the only clue that the killer left behind. Before long, the prime suspect is identified as former agent Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley), who is seemingly obsessed with hunting down serial killers and murdering them rather than turning them in to the proper authorities. Though Mackelway believes he knows the area where O'Ryan (Kingsley) is living, he has no idea what he looks like -- a problem that the rogue agent exploits with great success. Despite his brilliance, Mackelway finds himself caught in a psychological labyrinth of sorts, and is faced with an even greater quandary after learning that O'Ryan is looking for none other than Suspect Zero, a murderer of hundreds and the FBI's most wanted man. The supporting cast includes Carrie-Anne Moss and Harry J. Lennix. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
Ellen Blake - Dolly; Keith Campbell - Raymond Starkey; Frank Collison - Piper; Jerry Gardner - Sheriff Harry Dylan; Julian Reyes - Highway Patrolman; Kevin Skousen - Icarus Agent; Boots Southerland - Vic; Michael Chapman - Prosecutor #1; Buddy Joe Hooker - Suspect Zero; William Mapother - Bill Grieves; Brady Coleman - Dyson; Kevin Chamberlin - Harold Speck; Nicole DeHuff - Katie; Lea Franklin - Mother; Angelina C. Torres - Neighbor Lady; Chloe Russell - Loretta; David House - Truth or Consequences Cop; William R. Johnson - Mel; Daniel Patrick Moriarty - Bud Granger; Curtis Plagge - Jumbo; Donn Owens - FBI Agent; Catherine Haun - Joan Speck; David Ode - Bartender; Miguel Zapata - Charlie; Jane Goold - Kathleen; Benjamin Petry - Little Boy; Jenny Cleveland - Little Boy's Mom; Kent Kirkpatrick - Cora; Dorsey Ray - Project Director; Marya Beauvais - Prosecutor #2; Letta E. Gorder - Reporter; Ed Dames - Icarus Trainer; Aaron Donahue - Remote Viewer; Cecilia L. Webb - Gospel Singer #1; Hope Bell - Gospel Singer #2
Credit
Guy Barnes - Art Director, Don Coufal - Boom Operator, Deborah Aquila - Casting, Tricia Wood - Casting, Barbara Brinkley - Casting, Mary Claire Hannan - Costume Designer, Joan Cunningham - First Assistant Director, E. Elias Merhige - Director, Buddy Joe Hooker - Second Unit Director, John Gilroy - Editor, Robert Lambert - Editor, Lester Berman - Executive Producer, Moritz Borman - Executive Producer, Tom Rosenberg - Executive Producer, Jonathan Sanger - Executive Producer, Nigel Sinclair - Executive Producer, Guy East - Executive Producer, Gary Lucchesi - Executive Producer, Darren Miller - Executive Producer, Ronald L. Carr - Location Manager, Clint Mansell - Composer (Music Score), Brian Ross - Musical Direction/Supervision, Stephan Dupuis - Makeup, Elizabeth Korzmo - Makeup, Joe Valentine - Camera Operator, George Stephanson - Camera Operator, Ida Random - Production Designer, Michael Chapman - Cinematographer, Philip Pfeiffer - Cinematographer, Paula Wagner - Producer, E. Elias Merhige - Producer, Gaye Hirsch - Producer, Martin Schloemer - Recording, Amy Stevens Hammond - Research, James Oberlander - Set Designer, Bayard Carey - Sound Mixer, Rob Seymour - Sound Mixer, Mark Mangini - Sound/Sound Designer, Mark Binder - Sound Editor, Dick Ziker - Stunts, Steve M. Davison - Stunts, Shawn Odum - Stunts, Jennifer Caputo - Stunts, J. Armin Garza II - Stunts, Dan Berryman - Stunts, Ralph Odum - Stunts, Paul Anthony Scott - Stunts, Richard Slaughter - Stunts, Buddy Joe Hooker - Stunts Coordinator, Matt Kutcher - Special Effects Supervisor, Brian Maas - Technical Advisor, Donn Owens - Technical Advisor, Lester Berman - Unit Production Manager, Kaaren F. Ochoa - Unit Production Manager, Zak Penn - Screen Story, Billy Ray - Screenwriter, Zak Penn - Screenwriter, Danny Mormino - Production Assistant, Carrie Oyer - Production Assistant, Ben Hammock - Production Assistant, Jai James - Production Assistant, Tom Bowman - Production Assistant, JJ Dalton - Production Assistant, Steve Deroma - Production Assistant, Ethan Dixon - Production Assistant, Elizabeth Gabel - Production Assistant, Parker Landis - Production Assistant, Heather McCluskey - Production Assistant, James McFadden - Production Assistant, Cameron Velarde - Production Assistant, Corey Weintraub - Production Assistant, John McCarthy - Additional Music, Rachel Aberly - Unit Publicist, Jeffrey Ford - Additional Editing, Joel Sill - Executive Music Producer, James Thibo - First Assistant Camera, Charles B. Katz - First Assistant Camera, Trevor Loomis - First Assistant Camera, Camille Freer - First Assistant Camera, Barry Idoine - First Assistant Camera, David Cummings - Grip, Tobin Espeset - Grip, Patrick Noland - Grip, Don Nordquist - Grip, Hank Sheppard - Grip, Bunny K. Andrews - Music Editor, Adam Milo Smalley - Music Editor, Charlene Olson - Post Production Supervisor, Jennifer Blair - Production Coordinator, Ralph Bertelle - Production Supervisor, Kris Peck - Properties Master, Barney Burman - Prosthetic Makeup Effects, Thomas R. Burman - Prosthetic Makeup Effects, Elliot Tyson - Re-Recording Mixer, Marshall Garlington - Re-Recording Mixer, Tod Orr - Re-Recording Mixer, Judi Townsend - Script Supervisor, Amy Marsh - Script Supervisor, Randol Perelman-Taylor - Second Assistant Director, Paul Sirmons - Second Assistant Director, Randy Lafollette - Second Assistant Director, David Luckenbach - Steadicam Operator, Melissa Moseley - Still Photographer, Mary Law Weir - Costume/Wardrobe, Melanie Rios - Costume/Wardrobe, George Berndt - ADR Editor, Bob Baron - ADR Mixer, Chuck Sharp - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Robert Savage - Assistant Location Manager, Alan Swain - Assistant Location Manager, Jason Davis - Assistant Properties, Mark Hansen - Assistant Properties, Shawn Ian Kerkhoff - Assistant Sound Editor, Heidi Mayfield - Buyer, Season Flauntleroy - Camera Loader, Sean Quiles - Camera Loader, Chrysanthy Lyras - Casting Assistant, Kathie E. Norris - Casting Assistant, Jennifer Smith - Casting Associate, Mel Maxwell - Chief Lighting Technician, Christopher Windisch - Construction Coordinator, Dorothy Baca - Costumes Supervisor, Harland Espeset - Dolly Grip, Chris Joehnk - Electrician, Stephen Mullen - Electrician, Lee Nakagawa - Electrician, Lou Nelson - Electrician, Adam Crawford - Electrician, Jason Crawford - Electrician, Jason Linebaugh - Electrician, Tim Macdonald - Electrician, James Walton - Electrician, Sally Jane Jackson - Extra Casting, Lisa M. Dannenbaum - First Assistant Editor, Robin Harlan - Foley Artist, Sarah Monat - Foley Artist, Ezra Dweck - Foley Editor, Benjamin J. Bustos - Leadman, Grady Lee - Personal Assistant, Devon Wilson - Personal Assistant, Allison Adams - Personal Assistant, Luke Bishop - Personal Assistant, Gunnar Clancey - Personal Assistant, Mia Fenwick - Personal Assistant, Wendy Proffit - Personal Assistant, Michael Ryan - Personal Assistant, Joey Shanley - Personal Assistant, Eric T. Werner - Post Production Assistant, Tom Udell - Production Controller, Steven J. Wolfe - Second Assistant Camera, Giselle Brewton - Second Assistant Camera, Serge Nofield - Second Assistant Camera, Gabe Pfeiffer - Second Assistant Camera, Chemen A. Ochoa - Second Second Assistant Director, Brad Barnes - Set Dresser, Andrew Garcia-Price - Storyboard Artist, Pacific Title - Visual Effects, Alan Edward Bell - Visual Effects, Pacific Title & Art Studio - Visual Effects, Boy Wonder Visual Effects - Visual Effects, Art Studio - Visual Effects, Wendy Barnes - Set Decorator, Matthew Halbert - Cable Person, Harry Muller - Color Timing, Arlen J. Johnson - Construction Foreman, Randy K. Singer - Foley Mixer, Mary Fraser Nelson & Associates - Negative Cutter, Christopher Hanada - Production Secretary, Andrew Schlosser - Set Medic/First Aid, Kenneth Garcia - Set Medic/First Aid, Kenneth Van Order - Special Effects Foreman, Robert Ulrich - Supervising ADR Editor, Rob Althouse - Video Assist, Becky Young - Art Department Coordinator, Darrin Navarro - Assistant Avid Editor, Bryan Lawson - Assistant Music Editor, Mary Parker - Assistant Music Editor
Clint Mansell
Charles Mehling (song "The Beginner")
Austin Miles (song "I Come to the Garden Alone")
Rick Parker (song "The Beginner")
Robert Williams (song "What a Dream It's Been")
Suspect Zero is a 2004thriller, directed by E. Elias Merhige. It opened to decidedly mixed reviews, and failed to earn back half of its estimated $27 million production costs at the box office. It has also been criticized for having a similar ending as the movie Se7en.
FBI Agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart) and Agent Fran Kulok (Carrie-Anne Moss) are put on the trail of Ben O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley), a serial killer who exclusively targets other serial killers. As the investigation proceeds, the agents begin to become aware of the possible existence of "Suspect Zero", a mythical "super serial killer" responsible for hundreds of deaths across all 50 states who leaves no evidence behind to link his crimes together. The agents must decide if O'Ryan is the key that will allow them to catch Suspect Zero, or if he is Suspect Zero himself.
As it turns out, O'Ryan was part of a secret government experiment attempting to cultivate telepathic abilities in individuals for military purposes. The experiments gave O'Ryan the ability to see the actions of serial killers. These disturbing visions constantly torment O'Ryan, and drive him to find the killers and kill them. O'Ryan seeks out Mackelway because Mackelway shares his abilities to some degree and was involved in a controversial case that made headlines. O'Ryan hunts down Suspect Zero, whose child victims are giving O'Ryan even more nightmares.
The actual "Suspect Zero" is another man who travels over the United States with a truck. He targets children, whom he kidnaps and transports to his ranch to be killed.
Eventually, Mackelway and O'Ryan find Suspect Zero at his ranch. After a struggle outside, Suspect Zero is killed when Mackelway crushes his skull with a rock. O'Ryan then tries to convince Mackelway to end his suffering by killing him. When Mackelway refuses, O'Ryan pretends to attack him prompting Kulok (who is watching from a distance) to shoot him to defend her partner.
A major theme of the film is remote viewing, and the DVD's extra features include interviews with people who worked with the US military and intelligence agencies as part of those programs.
