Don't Believe the Hype

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

They say that serial killers are driven to kill and are unable to stop, but Eugene Van Wingerdt (Scott Glenn) did stop. He stopped nearly thirty years ago and moved away to a small town, where he became the local barber and beloved member of the local community. One day, out of the blue, the son of the cop who originally investigated his crimes, tracks him down. The cop, posing as a budding serial killer, wants advice from Eugene, who continuing to claim he's not who the boy thinks he is. Eugene feels sorry for him and forms a bond with the young man, trying to lead him away from a life of crime, but as he does, will those old feelings come back to the surface, or is Eugene really just a misunderstood old man? The premise of the new independent film, The Barber, is certainly unique and to me it seemed as though there were many different directions this film could have gone in, but the path chosen, was the road less traveled, and the result was just a really boring and predictable story. This is one of those film where nothing really happens until the end, and by that point, the viewer is just so bored and sick of the whole thing that they just want it to be over. Scott Glenn stars and is far too old to be believable. I can understand wanting to be active and not simply take on the role of grandpa, but a mentor for a serial killer, it just doesn't fit. Glenn is paired with newcomer Chris Coy, who honestly couldn't act his way into a high school play, much less play a character with duel personalities. By the end of this film, I literally cringed every time the guy opened his mouth. The story here is solid, but the way producers go about telling it and the people they cast to star in it leave a lot to be desired.

I decided to rent the DVD of "The Barber" because it had actor Scott Glenn in it, an actor who I feel is very underrated. As expected, Glenn gives another solid performance. It is a little shocking at first to see him look so old (though then again, he is in his 70s), but he expertly shows two sides of his character, the sweet old man everyone in his old town thinks he is, and at other times a hidden darker side. His role is also written to have some interesting quirks (he can't stand foul language). As for the rest of the script, it's kind of a mixed bag. It doesn't make sense that Glenn's character would let his guard down so early on, and you'll be able to guess more or less what happens at the end long before it happens (though there is a final twist I didn't predict.) The story also has some slow spots. As for the direction, viewers who are expecting R-rated thrills will likely be disappointed; though the movie got an R rating, it feels more like a PG-13. On the other hand, the movie looks pretty good for a low budget enterprise, and director Bael Owies does manage to keep a small kernel of interest for viewers even during the clunkier moments. What the movie ends up being is an okay viewing experience, nothing more or less.

How and why IMDb rates this so called movie at or around a 5.7 is beyond me. This movie is a classic B- movie from the first scene to the final credits. Forget the storyline as the writer of this movie doesn't have a clue what a good storyline is, what it may look like, or how to fashion an even interesting tale.I could get into what this stupid movie is about, but if that is what your looking for then read the IMDb summary, what I want to share is my opinion of "The barber". First and foremost this movie has people acting and doing things nobody would ever do, the plot is so stupid your only reasonable response is to fast forward the entire movie to the end so you can be done with it. Scott Glenn was once a decent actor who took reasonably good roles, he has obviously fallen on hard times to take on crap like this.Here's the bottom-line on this movie, if you like stories that are so unrealistic and unbelievable then maybe this movie is for you after-all, However, if you enjoy a good drama, a good plot, decent acting, a storyline that makes sense, a movie that draws you in and keeps you invested in the story, then this trite called "The barber" is not worth your time, effort, or attention....avoid it like the plague, you can thank me later.

Greetings again from the darkness. There is a theory that to catch a killer, one must think like a killer. Young John McCormack is in the next room when his detective father, frustrated at being unable to put away a serial killer, commits suicide. Flash forward twenty years, and John is now himself a police officer intent on finishing his father's work … and gaining a bit of revenge in the process.The story picks up as John (Chris Coy) has tracked Francis Visser to a small town, where he is known as Eugene the town barber, a gentle and dignified friend to all. Scott Glenn portrays Eugene as a slow-shuffling elderly gentleman who doesn't much appreciate profanity, rudeness or poor decisions. He is even friends with the local police chief (Stephen Tobolowsky), who accepts Eugene's word on just about any topic.The cat and mouse game between John and Eugene plays a bit like Sleuth (1972) where each participant sees himself as smarter than the other. Only this time, there are 17 previous murders to go along with the developments after Eugene agrees to mentor John on the fine art of stalking, planning and killing without evidence. Beginning with a gypsy proverb: "You have to dig deep to bury your father", the film seems to use that quote figuratively and literally, as being buried alive plays a role alongside the detective father's ruinous obsession. Supporting work is provided by Kristen Heger, as John's co-worker (and more), Olivia Taylor Dudley as the waitress looking to John for fun, and Max Arciniega as Eugene's barber shop employee.More attention to the John vs Eugene piece, and a little less to the various sub-plots, could have tightened up this thriller and elevated it to an even more suspenseful level. Mr. Glenn and Mr. Coy are both excellent, and at their best when sharing a scene. It's a nice first feature from director Basel Owies, who has an eye for nuanced characters with a dark side.