WΔZ (pronounced double-u delta zed) is a 2007 British crime horror thriller film directed by Tom Shankland and starring Stellan Skarsgård, Melissa George, Selma Blair and Tom Hardy. The film was released in the United States with the title The Killing Gene.[1]
WΔZ | |
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![]() British theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Tom Shankland |
Screenplay by | Clive Bradley |
Produced by | Allan Niblo James Richardson |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Morten Søborg |
Edited by | Tim Murrell |
Music by | David Julyan |
Distributed by | Vertigo Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £5 million ($10 million) |
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A pair of detectives attempt to solve a series of grisly murders in a dark rain soaked New York in which each victim has the Price equation (wΔz = Cov (w,z) = βwzVz) carved into their chests .
Detective Eddie Argo (Skarsgard) and his new partner Helen Westcott (George) decipher the strange equation and realize each victim must make a heinous choice: kill your loved ones or be killed. Soon, it is clear the perpetrator has suffered a similar fate and is now coping by attempting to solve this philosophical quandary.
The film received generally positive reviews. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 71% based on reviews from 14 critics.[2]
CHUD.com wrote of the film, "Director Tom Shankland paints a grimy portrait that fits well with the Clive Bradley script. It is a great debut for both filmmakers who created a movie that works on almost every level."[3]
DVD Talk wrote, "But let's not kid ourselves: This is a nasty horror thriller that has a Class of 1984 feel to it, although it has the most in common with the Saw series (even the line "Oh yes, there will be blood!" is morphed into "But there will be pain!"). It's not quite as outlandishly brutal, but it's still mean."[4]
Fortean Times wrote, "While the plot twists rarely come as a surprise, the film's grimy feel and effective pacing, and a gripping – if occasionally rather over-exaggerated – central performance by Skarsgård, make this a genuinely thrilling venture into Se7en territory, despite the unfortunate silliness of the title."[5]
Films directed by Tom Shankland | |
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