The Postcard Killings

Movie Trailer

Release Date
March 13, 2020

Genre
Crime, Drama, Thriller

Cast & Crew

• Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Jacob Kanon
• Famke Janssen as Valerie Kanon
• Cush Jumbo as Dessie Lombard
• Joachim Król as Inspector Bublitz
• Steven Mackintosh as Rupert Pearce
• Naomi Battrick as Sylvia
• Denis O’Hare as Simon Haysmith
• Eva Röse as Detective Eriksson

Director
Danis Tanović

Other Movies Director is Known For:

• No Man’s Land (2001)
• An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker (2013)
• Tigers (2014)

Producer
Paul Brennan
Peter Calvin Nelson
Liza Chasin
Greta Scacchi
Miriam Segal

Writer
Andrew Stern
Ellen Furman
Based on the novel The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund

Budget
$10 million (estimated)

Production Company
Good Films Collective
Riviera Films
Hindsight Media

Running Time
104 minutes

Languages
English (Original)

Maturity Rating
R

Content Advisory

• Strong violence
• Disturbing images
• Language
• Mature themes

Movie Story
The Postcard Killings is a crime thriller based on the novel The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund. The film follows Jacob Kanon (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a New York detective who is plunged into a nightmare when his daughter and her husband are brutally murdered while on their honeymoon in London. The couple’s bodies are found in a gruesome state, with their eyes gouged out and positioned in a way that mimics famous works of art.

Driven by grief and a relentless desire for justice, Jacob embarks on a cross-European manhunt to find the killers. His investigation reveals a disturbing pattern: similar murders have been occurring across Europe, with each crime scene accompanied by a postcard sent to a local journalist, taunting the authorities. Jacob teams up with Dessie Lombard (Cush Jumbo), an American journalist based in Sweden, who has received one of the ominous postcards. Together, they unravel a complex web of clues that leads them through various European cities, each crime more horrifying than the last.

As Jacob delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a twisted and macabre plot where the killers—a couple themselves—murder newlyweds and arrange their bodies to recreate famous works of art. The film explores themes of grief, vengeance, and the disturbing intersection of art and violence. The tension escalates as Jacob gets closer to the truth, putting himself and those around him in grave danger.

The narrative weaves together the procedural aspects of the investigation with the emotional toll it takes on Jacob, who struggles with the loss of his daughter while grappling with the brutal nature of the crimes. The film culminates in a tense and gripping finale, where Jacob must confront the killers in a deadly showdown.

Special Effects
The Postcard Killings employs practical effects to create the film’s disturbing crime scenes, with a focus on authenticity to enhance the horror of the murders. The film’s use of lighting and cinematography adds to the dark and ominous atmosphere, reflecting the bleakness of the story. The depiction of the murder scenes, which mimic famous art pieces, is handled with a macabre precision that underscores the killers’ twisted motivations.

Box Office Performance
The Postcard Killings had a limited theatrical release and was simultaneously available on video-on-demand platforms. The film’s box office performance was modest, largely due to its niche appeal and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected many theatrical releases in 2020. However, it found an audience among fans of crime thrillers through its availability on streaming services.

Filming Locations

• London, England, UK
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Munich, Germany
• Oslo, Norway

Notable Quotes

• “My daughter’s dead. They didn’t just kill her. They made a goddamn show out of it.” – Jacob Kanon
• “You hunt these people down, but you don’t even know what they look like.” – Dessie Lombard
• “Every murder is an act of creation.” – Simon Haysmith

Behind-the-Scenes
The Postcard Killings was directed by Danis Tanović, known for his critically acclaimed film No Man’s Land. The film adaptation was a challenge due to the complex narrative structure of the novel, which intertwines multiple murders across different countries. Jeffrey Dean Morgan was cast in the lead role for his ability to convey the emotional depth required for a grieving father while also portraying the relentless determination of a seasoned detective. The film’s international setting required on-location shoots across Europe, adding authenticity to the various crime scenes depicted in the story.

Awards

• N/A

Final Verdict
The Postcard Killings is a dark and suspenseful crime thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre. Jeffrey Dean Morgan delivers a compelling performance as a grief-stricken detective on the hunt for his daughter’s killers, while the film’s grim atmosphere and intricate plot keep the tension high. Although the film received mixed reviews, it stands out for its disturbing and artistic depiction of crime scenes, as well as its exploration of the emotional and psychological toll of the investigation. It’s a gripping, albeit unsettling, watch for those who enjoy murder mysteries with a twist.

IMDb Rating
5.7/10