Absence of the Good (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

John Flynn

Writers:

David Golden (screenplay)
James Reid (writer)

Release Date:

15 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Før var ondskaben bare en del af jobbet.[Denmark]

Plot:

Salt Lake City homicide detective Caleb Barnes is under increasing pressure from all sides to crack...

Plot Keywords:

Triple Child Murder | Psychiatrist | Police | Child Molestation | Photography

Cast

Stephen Baldwin	...	Caleb Barnes
Tyne Daly	...	Dr. Marcia Lyons
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elizabeth Barondes	...	Bailey
Brian Lee Bouck	...	Joe Marshall
Jenniffer Buckalew	...	Sheila Gaskin
Roger Callard	...	Evans
Dalin Christiansen	...	Mr. Gummer
Lesley Fera
Neblis Francois	...	Young Uniform
Andrew Fugate	...	Michael Barnes
Allen Garfield	...	Lieutenant Paul Taylor
Frank Gerrish	...	Roger
Shawn Huff	...	Mary Barnes
Robert Joseph	...	SWAT Officer
Rob Joseph	...	SWAT Officer
Robert Knepper	...	Glenn Dwyer
Janice Knickrehm	...	Agnes Thurmond
Cecile Krevoy	...	Receptionist
Britt Leary	...	Lynette Gummer
Tamie Lea Logan	...	Tracy
James Maitland	...	Detective Garcia
Cathleen Mason	...	Mrs. Gummer
Giselle Miller	...	Andy Wendt
Silas Weir Mitchell	...	Jack Gaskin
Joey Miyashima	...	Childress
Steve O'Neill	...	Detective Sloan
Rosalie Richards	...	Mrs. Kogen
Robby Robinson	...	Clerk
Dennis Saylor	...	Reverend Steve
George Sullivan	...	Sheriff Burnett
Hillary J. Walker	...	Office Assistant
Alex Warren	...	Julie / Sarah Quinn
Michelle Wright	...	Detective

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

Sweden:99 min | Argentina:101 min | USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:R (Certificate #36631) | Germany:16 | Argentina:18 | Iceland:16

Pleasantly Surprised

What can I say about DTV movies that hasn't already been said? The answer is not a whole lot. You go in expecting a cheap forgettable b-movie and the majority of the time that's exactly what you get. Thankfully 'Absence Of The Good' is actually decent. Here we find Caleb Barnes (Baldwin) as a Salt Lake City homicide detective trying to settle back into his job after losing his son five weeks ago. His wife is still somewhat shattered by it, but being the man he is Caleb puts on a strong face and tries to move on. Naturally soon he and his partner become entangled in a series of murders who's linked nature only becomes apparent as they pick up the pieces, but it's time they can't afford as the killer continues to strike out at the innocent.

Now I know what you're thinking. At first glance 'Absence' seems like any other serial killer movie to come along. What sets it apart is it's tightly filmed, acted and shot. Never once does it become bogged down in overcomplicated plot / character points or try to be something it's not. What makes 'Absence of the Good' work is it has something to say - it gets in - says it effectively - then leaves.

Stephen Baldwin turns in his usual self and while that has been a detractor in other movies for once his mannerisms don't sink the movie, but actually fit in nicely. The supporting cast is more than adequate at filling out their roles with Tyne Daly as a psychologist and Robert Knepper particularly strong as Caleb's partner. Under the direction of John Flynn (who also directed 1987's Best Seller - one of my favorite sleeper films) the story is somewhat slow going, but it builds to a nice crescendo that hits the right note. All in all for a low budget DTV television movie starring Stephen Baldwin of all people - the results are quite decent. Worthy of a look.