Film

Taking Lives

Name: Taking Lives
Genre: Thriller
Released: 2004
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland, Gena Rowlands, Olivier Martinez

A stylish serial-killer procedural where an FBI profiler hunts a Montreal murderer who steals his victims' identities. It's taut and handsome, sustained by strong lead chemistry and the pleasure of watching a capable protagonist work a genuinely twisted case. Best for viewers who like their thrillers focused and efficient rather than psychologically dense.

TMDb rating

3.2

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like a cat-and-mouse procedural where the pleasure is in watching a profiler read a crime scene and a witness's face, and you don't mind a plot that trades realism for atmosphere.

Skip it if you need a tidy puzzle with airtight logic, since this leans on mood and coincidence, and its suspense often outruns its sense.

What it asks of you: Under two hours of watchful attention: short, observant scenes set in cold Montreal streets, asking you to keep track of who is looking at whom.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Mindhunters2004

A similarly crafted thriller about criminal profilers hunting a killer, with comparable pacing and an ensemble of solid character actors. It has the same institutional procedural feel and structural twists.

But Released the same year and doesn't add much beyond a different setting. The plot turns occasionally strain credibility.

The Silence of the Lambs1991

The gold standard for FBI profiler thrillers. Brilliantly constructed, with genuine psychological terror beneath the procedural framework. Every scene earns its place.

But It's a very different beast—far darker, more intellectually complex. You'll find Taking Lives lighter in comparison.

Copycat1995

Sigourney Weaver as a criminal psychologist confronting a killer obsessed with her work. It has real tension, good chemistry between leads, and understands the cat-and-mouse structure well.

But More melodramatic and dated in style. The relationship subplot overwhelms the thriller plotting at times.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Taking Lives

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Memories of Murder2003

Both use the serial killer procedural to explore institutional power and investigative method, but Bong's film treats it as tragedy while Taking Lives treats it as entertainment.

Bong Joon-ho's masterpiece: a serial killer hunt in 1980s Korea where procedural competence meets institutional dysfunction and genuine dread. More thematically ambitious than Taking Lives but built on the same skeleton. Stunning filmmaking and performances.

But Longer than Taking Lives and considerably darker. Non-linear structure and ambiguous ending frustrate viewers seeking closure.

The Body2012

A lean Spanish procedural about a detective investigating a corpse found in a church. Tense, clever plotting with genuine surprises. Economy over flash.

But Slower pacing and a very different tone—more austere and cerebral than Taking Lives.

Twisted2004

Another 2004 release with Ashley Judd as a detective investigating murders that keep pointing to her. It knows what it is and moves fast.

But Often feels mechanical. The twists are predictable and the character work is thin.

Red Dragon2002

Edward Norton and Anthony Hopkins in a methodical hunt for a serial killer. Competent procedural work with strong performances grounding the material.

But Strictly middle entry. Neither as sharp as Lambs nor as innovative. It can feel like a very long detective report.

Primal Fear1996

Edward Norton and Richard Gere in a legal thriller with thriller bones. Taut courtroom scenes and a structure that genuinely surprises. Norton is phenomenal.

But More courtroom drama than serial killer hunt. Relies on a twist that becomes obvious if you're paying attention.

The Watcher

Keanu Reeves as an obsessive FBI agent stalking James Spader's killer across St. Louis. Raw and weird in ways most procedurals aren't.

But Genuinely unpleasant and unrewarding. The obsession angle curddles into something nasty without offering insight.

Derailed2005

Clive Owen in a taut, efficient thriller with a terrific economy of plot. Minimal setup, maximum tension. It knows its limits and stays within them.

But Thin on character depth and operates almost entirely on mechanism. Forgettable once it ends.

Brick2006

Both films use procedural investigation as spine, but Brick weaponises genre language itself—the form becomes content in a way Taking Lives doesn't attempt.

Rian Johnson transplants noir detective work into a high school setting, finding genuine mystery and dread there. Clever without being smug, procedurally rigorous and visually precise. A debut that announced a major talent.

But Stylised dialogue and the anachronistic genre trappings put many viewers off. The plot is secondary to atmosphere for some stretches.

The Night Of2016

While Taking Lives races to catch its killer, The Night Of asks what happens after arrest, exploring the machinery that swallows the guilty and innocent alike.

An eight-hour HBO miniseries that follows a murder investigation from arrest through legal entanglement. Meticulous, devastating character work. Riz Ahmed and John Turturro are extraordinary. This is what happens when you give a thriller room to breathe.

But Glacially paced; you watch lawyers read depositions. The killer is revealed early. Those seeking plot propulsion will find it agonising.