WΔZ
WΔZ
R | 19 May 2007 (USA)
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There is something horribly wrong with the bodies found in the dark city streets. Some are mutilated while others have the Price equation (wΔz = Cov (w,z) = βwzVz) carved into their flesh. Detective Eddie Argo and his new partner Helen Westcott unearth the meaning of the odd equation and realise each victim is being offered a gruesome choice: kill your loved ones, or be killed. Before long it becomes clear that the perpetrator has suffered a similar fate and is now coping by seeking a way to solve this philosophical dilemma.

Reviews
Ketrivie

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

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Ogosmith

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

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Roman Sampson

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

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Chantel Contreras

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

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gengar843

The acting here is mostly over-the-top, as are the facial expressions. Sorry, these things stick out to me and I can't stop seeing it. The plot was OK - revenge killing the motive, pseudo-science the motif. Not sci-fi because it was just the theory being tested, not really the formula. Brutal torture scenes, some of which go on forever. Not a whole lot of tension, just waiting for the revenge parts. Dialogue was iffy, but some good points about love and maybe even genes. The ending I saw coming a mile away, and you should too. At least it was subtle and not a knock on the head.

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cpeden89

wow what a filmi read a few reviews first so thought sounds like it could be worth the watchand boy was i impressed.from start to finish the film draws you in and the story line keeps you glued to the TV. the acting was great few old faces that seen in many a movie and the ending just blew me away. i wont go into it to much but just to say suspense filled, bit gore thrown in . and totally worth the 9/10 i gave it.don't miss this film whatever you do

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random_avenger

"Possibly the most violent film ever" and "Saw by way of Se7en" announce the critical blurbs on the DVD cover. Sounds promising, I like both of those movies and Stellan Skarsgård's work, so a rental was an easy choice, it being the Halloween month and all. In the end, there is a lot to like in w Delta z (which will from now on be referred to as "wAz" for simplicity's sake), at least for thriller fans with strong stomachs.Like many serial killer tales, wAz (also known as The Killing Gene) follows two detectives as they investigate a series of gruesome murders of brutal lowlife figures in a big city. All the cases are connected with a mathematical equation featuring the eponymous "w delta z" carved into the flesh of the tortured and disfigured bodies. With the combined skills of a hardened veteran cop Eddie Argo (Stellan Skarsgård) and an idealistic rookie Helen Westcott (Melissa George), the murder spree starts unwinding and soon appears to be related to Eddie's past as a dirty cop...Right from the first scene it becomes obvious that wAz is a strongly visual film. The nocturnal streets of the city are lit with beautifully designed lighting, the foremost ruling colour being strong green. Yellow is also utilized in creating a sinister mood during the numerous night scenes, while the day scenes are often tinted cool blue or urban gray. Despite the excellent cinematography, the hectic camera work never allows the viewer to properly relax and enjoy the visuals. The constant shakycam roaming is always a sure opinion divider; personally, I don't mind the technique if it is used tastefully, but in wAz it often feels more annoying than atmospheric. Generally speaking, long static shots force the audience to focus on what is happening on the screen without giving them a chance to hide between the shaking and quick cuts to different angles. This kind of raw presentation style free of distractions could have fit in this movie excellently, although then the violent scenes would probably have rocketed the age rating through the ceiling.Speaking of the violence, it is detailed and plentiful (though doesn't exactly live up to the quote at the beginning of this review): blood, burns, cuts and other kind of injuries are given a decent amount of attention over the course of the story. The final scenes could be straight from the Saw series, while the more atmospheric investigation scenes derive more from David Fincher's suspenseful serial killer cat and mouse chase Se7en (1995), right from the relationship of the protagonists (veteran + rookie, although this type of dramatic pairing has been used for a long time) to the handsomely designed end credits.The visuals and violence are not the only strengths of wAz, since the acting is generally very strong too. The charismatic Skarsgård oozes menace as the gruff, hardened Eddie Argo who still carries a well-hidden softer side and a sense of righteousness under the tough surface. Melissa George's role didn't strike me as memorably, although I've seen less convincing performances in this type of "woman in a rough manly environment" roles. Most of the supporting actors are top-notch as well, particularly Tom Hardy as the sadistic street boss Pierre Jackson and Paul Kaye as the nerdy, nervous scientist Dr. Gelb who first introduces the detectives to the eponymous Price equation that eventually turns out to have an important effect on the killer's motivations. The references to animal behaviour and selfish genes are basically interesting but ultimately don't connect with the killer in a very convincing way. Part of it may have to do with certain actress's performance as the murderer (her identity is revealed relatively early on, so I don't think it's much of a spoiler to mention her gender here); the idea of such a fragile woman executing the gruesome acts all by herself is a bit hard to swallow.At the end of the day, wAz is a very watchable combination of the thriller and the now-trendy torture porn genres. The wallowing in urban filth and examining the justifications of vigilantism have been done before in a more suspenseful way (comparisons to Se7en must be drawn once again), but for fans of the genre this one is recommended viewing as well. Others may wish to choose something else to watch altogether.

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Samiam3

It's grim, it's gloomy and morally twisted. The Killing Gene is entertaining in darkest of manners. At times, it feels like a forerunner to Law Abiding Citizen only with more subtlety, but it would be more appropriate to think of The Killing Gene as an indie version of Se7en (we all remember that film right?) The story appears to be set in the city that never sleeps. What we have here is Selma Blair taking on a Jigsaw(Saw series) persona killing her chosen victims using a kind of Milgram's experiment (which I won't describe for obvious reasons). Detective Eddie Argo and his new partner are on the case investigating the appearance of bodies as they start to pop up with an algebraic formula carved on them. Eddie knows something that he is not telling the department, something that may catch up with him before he catches up with the killer.For a good eighty minutes, this killer thriller growls like a lion, angry but stable. It waits to let out its roar until the climax, which turns out to be the film's Achilles heal. I was fairly impressed by the Killing Gene's ability to avoid getting convoluted, but make no mistake, nothing lasts forever. It has a sloppily presented finale, which is stagey, badly acted, and is a lousy pay off for what at the beginning seemed to be an important element. I've always had a sort of liking for Stellan Skaresgard, even though he lacks charisma. His screen presence here while somewhat torpid, is surprisingly compelling. He evokes the persona of a man who is hiding a lot. A cynical person could easily see him as cardboard, but bit by bit, he starts to make more sense. the same cannot be said of Melissa George. Her character is pointless, and seems to have no real place in the script. Selma Blair has no acting ability whatsoever. In some films, she has gotten away with her emo persona, but this may be the worst entry in her resume yet.I'm not sure which part of New York this film is set in, but if I though it was as psychedelic looking as this, I may go just for a photo shoot. the Killing Gene is lit like a comic book, sometimes matching John Carpenter's vision in Escape from New York, only without the street fires and the wrecked cars.The whole thing works. I am not an easy person to creep out, but The Killing Gene occasionally got under my skin. Just imagine what it would do to a squeamish person. If you were in to Saw or Se7en, I think you'll find The Killing Gene a fairly worthy investment of your time, for a rainy night.

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