Netflix Dark Crime Thriller From Massively Popular Author Deserves Another Look
Among movie lovers, there is often an annoying tendency for younger fans to “rediscover” older films that were critical and commercial hits when they were first released. In our always humble opinion, the real films worth re-examining are the ones that crashed and burned because they took too many risks and were arguably ahead of their game. One of the greatest examples of this is The Postcard Killings, a crime thriller streaming on Netflix that deserves another look from film lovers everywhere.
The Postcard Killings
What is The Postcard Killings about, exactly? It’s all about a detective who gets way too close to the case when he discovers that his daughter was murdered during her honeymoon. With help from an American journalist and critic working abroad in Sweden, he seeks justice for both his deceased daughter and her murdered husband.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Your mileage may vary as a filmgoer, but a large part of what makes The Postcard Killings so compelling is the cast. Jeffrey Dean Morgan plays the detective investigating the murder of his daughter, and he gives the role more than a little of his trademark charismatic intensity.
If you’ve been enjoying Morgan as the devil on Butcher’s shoulder in the most recent season of The Boys, you’re sure to love him taking a starring role in this strange crime thriller.
Famke Janssen
Another big name in The Postcard Killings is Famke Janssen, who plays Morgan’s wife. She will always have a place in our nerdy hearts for playing Jean Grey in the original X-Men films, but she offers a much more understated performance here.
The tragedy her character shares with Morgan’s character gives them a special connection, and she helps add some much-needed vulnerability and pathos to their shared scenes.
Cush Jumbo
Perhaps the most surprising performance comes from Cush Jumbo, who plays the journalist and art critic who gets involved in this investigation. As the one receiving the postcards showcasing brutal killings all across Europe, her character quickly proves that she has nerves of steel.
Rather than being rattled by the horrors she witnesses, she becomes strong enough to stop them, and Jumbo’s performance makes that character’s iron will seem completely believable.
Stream It Now
While the movie was based on popular author James Patterson’s The Postcard Killers, that name recognition certainly wasn’t enough to impress critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Postcard Killings currently has a 23 percent critical rating, with some critics complaining that the film isn’t very fun and doesn’t have enough action.
Frankly, we think those are strange criticisms—most serious movies focusing on horrific murders won’t be “fun,” and critics itchy for more mindless cinematic action should go stream the latest Marvel slop on Disney+ and be done with it.
As you can tell, we think The Postcard Killings is a critically-reviled film that is worth another look. Will you share that opinion or will you want to tear this film up and send pictures of the destruction to your favorite journalist? Either way, we’re confident in saying that this film will have a lasting impact on everyone who streams it on Netflix.
