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Illeana (Jolie) is an FBI profiler called in to help with a brutal serial murder case in Montreal. The local cops (Martinez, Karyo and Anglade) aren't thrilled by her presence, even after she cleverly spots key clues here and there. A witness to one murder, Costa (Hawke), provides the first tangible evidence, while an elegant but cranky woman (Rowlands) adds a wrinkle to the mystery, and a sinister figure (Sutherland) lurks in the margins. Can the cops put all the pieces together before the killer strikes again? And can they put aside their personal issues to solve the case?

Caruso directs the film with that anonymous sheen we see in this genre--stylish but uninventive, while seemingly oblivious to either the plot's clunkiness or the ludicrously contrived character arcs. The film looks fantastic, and all of the actors are quite good (until it goes silly), helped by having award-winners like Sutherland, Rowlands, Dano and Crozee in micro-roles. Jolie holds the film together effortlessly in the role usually played by either herself or Ashley Judd in these movies, complete with quirky behaviour and one "passionate" sex scene in which she earns her stripes as a contortionist! There are plenty of scenes that make us jump--mostly red herrings or completely illogical plot turns, but at least they're great fun. We're never in danger of falling asleep as we watch Bokenkamp ("story and screenplay by"--does he have no shame?) press all the buttons on cue, complete with fake-out ending and various explanatory codas. None of which is remotely surprising, even if it will make you squeal with mock-terrified glee. Ah yes, that's why we watch these films!