Thriller

Absence of the Good

Salt Lake City homicide detective Caleb Barnes is under increasing pressure from all sides to crack a string of serial killings that have been terrorizing the city. At the same time, Barnes' home life is beginning to crumble in the wake of his son's accidental death. Will he solve the killings before the stress tears him apart?

Release Date : 1999-10-15

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company :

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Caleb Barnes

Original Name : Stephen Baldwin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Marcia Lyons

Original Name : Tyne Daly

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lieutenant Paul Taylor

Original Name : Allen Garfield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary Barnes

Original Name : Shawn Huff

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jack Gaskin

Original Name : Silas Weir Mitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective Sloan

Original Name : Steve O'Neill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective Garcia

Original Name : James Maitland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah Quinn

Original Name : Alex Warren

Gender : Female

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : Michelle Wright

Gender : Male

Character Name : Glenn Dwyer

Original Name : Robert Knepper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bailey

Original Name : Elizabeth Barondes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Joe Marshall

Original Name : Brian Lee Bouck

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheila Gaskin

Original Name : Jenniffer Buckalew

Gender : Male

Character Name : Evans

Original Name : Roger Callard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Gummer

Original Name : Dalin Christiansen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective

Original Name : Tony Devon

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Lesley Fera

Gender : Female

Character Name : Michael Barnes

Original Name : Andrew Fugate

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger

Original Name : Frank Gerrish

Gender : Male

Character Name : Agnes Thurmond

Original Name : Janice Knickrehm

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lynette Gummer

Original Name : Britt Leary

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tracy

Original Name : Tamie Lea Logan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Gummer

Original Name : Cathleen Mason

Gender : Male

Character Name : Andy Wendt

Original Name : Giselle Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Childress

Original Name : Joey Miyashima

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Kogen

Original Name : Rosalie Richards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clerk

Original Name : Robby Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reverend Steve

Original Name : Dennis Saylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheriff Burnett

Original Name : George Sullivan

Gender : Male

Reviews

Charles Tatum

@CharlesTatum

2021-06-23

Stephen Baldwin stars in another serial killer film that arrives on the scene about ten years too late. Detective Caleb (Stephen Baldwin) and wife Mary (Shawn Huff) are still grieving after the accidental shooting death of their six year old son. Mary drowns her sorrow in pills, while emotionless Caleb drowns himself in work. A serial killer is on the loose in Salt Lake City, and Caleb and partner Glenn (Rob Knepper) are under pressure from their stereotypical blowhard commander (Allen Garfield) to solve the case. Caleb takes the case personally, since the main suspect was an abused child now visiting all his old childhood homes and murdering everyone living there. Dr. Lyons (Tyne Daly) tries to help Caleb before the case, and his nightmares about his son, send him over the edge. The cast here is very good, from Daly's tough and tender psychiatrist to Huff's sad portrayal of a mourning mother. Knepper is always a villain in everything else I have seen him in, having him be a good guy is a welcome change. I was initially put off by Baldwin's stiff portrayal. I realize his character is keeping his emotions bottled up, but I started to find his monotone monotonous. Once in a while, I thought he would turn that emotional corner, but then he would drop back into rigid and unfeeling again. John Flynn's direction is very good for a small film, helped immensely by Ric Waite's beautiful photography. Like most serial killer films, you might have this one figured out if you are paying close enough attention. I did like the investigative process this time around, although the "flawed cop working on his toughest case" story has been done. "Absence of the Good" was too easy a target (with that title) if it was bad. It is merely okay, no more, no less, and no surprises. (* * *) out of five stars.