Jacob (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Valerie Kanon’s (Famke Janssen) worst nightmares have come true in the latest James Patterson adaption that he cowrote with Liza Marklund, The Postcard Killings (a slight variation from Patterson and Marklund’s title – The Postcard Killers). Kimberly (Maryam Grace), Jacob and Valerie’s daughter, and her husband are brutally murdered while on their honeymoon in London. On top of that, the crime seems to be part of a series of ruthless murders across Europe.
The victim’s bodies are arranged in a specific way, including mutilations and limbs placed to recreate famous works of art. Whoever is responsible for this has been going from city to city finding young married couples as their victims. When they arrive in a new city, they send (I bet you already know) a postcard to a local reporter days before they commit their heinous crimes, forewarning what is about to come. It is safe to say that whoever killed Kimberly made a bad choice murdering a New York police detective’s daughter.
The Postcard Killings seemed to squander a great premise. There is a lack of tension and suspense for most of the film, not a good sign for a thriller. The film’s weather and settings mirror Jacob’s state of being. We see a majority of the film cloaked in grays, shadows, and rain. Sad and slow melodic music, typically comprised of simple piano notes, match the dreary surroundings. There is a lack of energy throughout the film that is apparent early on. Director Danis Tanovic tries to mix in some interesting shots and flashbacks to spice things up, but it is too little too late. When the dust settles, The Postcard Killings is a disappointing “thriller” that did not live up to it’s potential.