The Barber (2001)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Michael Bafaro

Writers:

Michael Bafaro (written by) &
Warren Low (written by)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Next?

Plot:

A weary town faces a long, dark winter. |

Plot Keywords:

Winter | FBI Agent | Narrator | Murder Investigation | Shot In The Back

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Dexter Miles
Jeremy Ratchford	...	Sheriff Corgan
Garwin Sanford	...	Agent Crawley
Brenda James	...	Sally
Paul Jarrett	...	Everett
Erin Wright	...	Jewels
Philip Granger	...	Levi
C. Ernst Harth	...	Buffalo
John B. Destry	...	Cecil (as John Destry)
David Abbott	...	Halstrom
Arnie Walters	...	Paddy
Ralph J. Alderman	...	Farley (as Ralph Alderman)
Vince Murdocco	...	Agent Rayner
Gary Hetherington	...	Jim
Michael Kopsa	...	Father Stiffler

Also Known As:

Le barbier (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:R | Germany:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Prophecy Entertainment

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the FBI agent goes to the police station after sleeping with Jewels, he walks by a mailbox. Although this film was filmed in Canada it is supposed to be set in Alaska. That mailbox is red which is a Canadian mailbox not an American mailbox.

Quotes:

Chief Vance Corgan: So, did you two lovebirds have a little domestic dispute?
Levi Gansby: A domes... a domestic what?
Chief Vance Corgan: A fight? A quarrel?
'Buffalo' Sedwick: No, we was just drinkin', y'know, bein' off-time and all. And we just gotta little outta sorts, y'know?
Levi Gansby: We tripped - that's all, we just tripped.
Chief Vance Corgan: Is that the truth, Buffalo? Did ya trip?
'Buffalo' Sedwick: Yeah, we tripped when we found the body cause, y'know, it scared us pretty good.
Chief Vance Corgan: So, you didn't see anything else? Just the body?
'Buffalo' Sedwick: No, we... we just... we just saw the body. I mean, well, I mean, uh, there mighta been some footprints, but... you probably drove over them comin' out here.
[...]

Soundtrack:

Tangled Up In You

A close shave, please!

Something is happening in the small Alaskan town where a woman is found dead in the snow. Right after she is discovered, the FBI gets into the case because it ties up with other killings in the Northwest. The town is about to celebrate Christmas, but it won't be a happy time for anyone because suddenly other young women are killed, as well.

Michael Bafaro's, "The Barber", shows some interesting aspects as a mystery movie. Although our attention is immediately drawn toward the most obvious person, something that the local police enforcers, or even the FBI overlook. In fact the film seems to be telling us the assassin is getting away with murder, because the one responsible eludes being trapped.

The film is watchable because of the work of Malcom McDowell in the film. He is an interesting actor to watch at work. Mr. McDowell is always a welcome addition to any film, as he proves in this one. Jeremy Ratchford is also an asset playing the police chief. The FBI agent discovers something murky in his past that might implicate him in the murders.

The bleak winter of that remote town in Alaska is captured in the film with good results by Mr. Bafaro and his crew. While this film doesn't break new ground, it will keep the viewer involved in the story.