User Reviews

A female protagonist detective (Mary / Melissa Roxburgh / Manifest) is teaming up with a veteran detective (Jake / Martin Lawrence / Bad Boys) to chase what seem to be a copy-cat killer from one of Jake's old cases. As the investigation goes deeper, more and more eerie details from the past are slowly unveiled, leading up to an unexpected ending. The main, and maybe only, person that can help them is the original killer himself ("The Artist" / John Malkovitch / Being John Malkovitch) which Mary must go into a deep psychological relationship with, in order to get him to shed light on their investigation.

Sounds familiar? Maybe because you've seen movies such as "Silence of the Lambs" or other detective dramas that following similar line. The difference here is that the production quality of "Mindcage" is pisspoor, Lionsgate managed to produce a movie at a Hallmark TV level. The special effects are as if done by a child, the foot chases are laughable and the green-screen (view outside the windows of the car, for example) are almost insulting to the viewer.

That low production quality and lack of good direction, recording and editing, makes the decent main actors performance look childish and amateuristic. The other performances are even worse, not even one of them landing a believable role, the worst offender being the facility's manager (Dr. Loesch / Neb Chupin) which is apparently a network engineer turned actor- somehow I was not surprised to learn that.

You know if you're an actor that is about to play a violinist, you might take a couple of lessons just so it looks good on screen, or if you are going to play a cop, visit a police-station for a day or two so that your demeanor is correct? Well, none of that here, the actors are as if they are pulled from their beds, being dressed with a $50 wardrobe and $10 makeup from Walmart and lights, camera, action...

The low production quality also distracts from the story and it being a bit out-there (no spoilers here- but just to say there is a twist somewhere in there) makes it a bit hard to follow the movie at times, but I made an extra effort to stick around to the end, and if you manage to ignore all the faults of this movie it is not completely un-enjoyable. It's just that there are so many movies better than this one out there to spend your time on.

I hope Melissa Roxburgh lands a better gig next time because she has the quality of a leading actress but with movies like this it is hard lash out a good performance. Guide: No nudity, no sexual situations, but several dead bodies and hints of physical harm. Exact score: 48 / 100.

Much like this line at the beginning of the movie, "Just because he's a priest don't mean he can't lie Mary" and then nothing ever became of it, the rest of the movie was infuriatingly bad. Bad script, bad acting, actors I wanted so badly to do well as I admire them from other titles.

I knew even from the first time that Jake and Mary drive together, and that fake as hand on the steering wheel and driving scene, that this movie was going to be bad. The doctor doing the autopsy who had no idea what to do with his hands - I'll hold them here so I look like a great actor, sheesh!

Anyway, I'm not sure what else to say except for, don't bother watching it, I suffered for you so you don't have to lol. This hideous mashup copycat of well known titles is just dreadful.

I mean I could look it up but I just don't have the energy or the care. This plot is so bad it's actually kind of funny. I knew from the first minute this movie would be a pile of poop. But I like B movies.

Lionsgate man, why? I mean I guess Jon and Martin needed some cash or something, but at least use a workable script. I can't wait to see the score on this movie in a few weeks. My guess is it's sub 4.

I liked he creativity a little, but overall it's just so bad and poorly done it can't be redeemable. I did like the lead female character.

Watch this movie if you want to chuckle but make sure you're at least 2-3 wines deep. 3/10 just because I laughed a lot and the plot is so bad. So bad 😂

This movie is a cheap ripoff of SOTL complete with laughably bad script and bad acting all around. I kinda knew this going in but I watched it because I thought it would be good for a laugh, kinda like when I watch a Nick Cage movie. But unfortunately this movie is basically just a dud and not even a So bad it's good movie. Even John Malkovich does a rather humdrum job of portraying a crazed serial killer. The entire project is so amateurishly done that its hard to believe it ever got finished. Any producer should have put this thing out of it's misery early on as it comes across like a high school project by clueless wannabe actors and production people. A very disappointing dumb waste of time.

Love the concept,love this genre. That's where it starts and well ends.

We tried to watch it twice,it landed up being background noise and then we decided to find literally anything else to watch.

This movie has A grade actors but thats all.

The lead actress was not a great choice for this role.

It's comes across as her reading her lines rather than becoming the character. She is like an amber Heard choice pretty face no depth.

It was badly written I felt bad for the actors having to act out those lines.

If they got better writers and a better leading lady it would be an awesome movie. Its meh.

Straight out of the gate, this movie isn't worth watching at all, and was even worse than I expected! It might even be considered insulting. This is a poor take on one of Hannibal's stories, with a dumb twist even Shyamalan would be embarrassed to include.

The high quality production of the visual elements employed on the Trailers (the impressive looking Angels) are the only remarkable part of the movie.

Sadly, the movie is riddled with problems.. from the terrible casting of every part, flat dialogue, poor audio quality, slow pacing, to rushed scene transitions. Then the content and execution leave a lot to be desired. And the "revelation" is so late in the game, you can't even muster the energy to care. It is quite ironic to open IMDB and check the movie's description, only to find the words "when a copycat strikes".

Would not recommend anyone waste their time on this.

Okay first let's get the obvious point everyone else is making. The description of this movie sounds so familiar then you remember WHY: Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, etc. I can't disagree that there are some similarities between these and probably other thrillers about serial killers. However, I watched it got the leads: Martin Lawrence, John Malkovich and the female lead was on Manifest, a show I liked. These three all did okay in their roles. John Malkovich can act better than most and did his best with his character. Martin Lawrence did well in a serious role. It's not Shakespeare or even close to as good as the films it is similar to but it's not a bad movie if you have insomnia and need something to pass the time like me. I liked it ok.

After watching "Mindcage" and seeing some reviews comparing it to "The Silence of the Lambs," I found the similarities notable but wouldn't call it a copy. Melissa Roxburgh delivers a performance that is both relatable and intelligent, easily drawing in the audience. John Malkovich, as The Artist, captivates with a mix of intelligence and charm, making for a standout performance alongside Roxburgh's.

The film follows the classic detective thriller format, filled with twists that keep viewers engaged and guessing. However, the VFX was a bit of a letdown, coming across as rushed and lacking cohesion at times.

Despite this, "Mindcage" stands out for its good performances, intriguing narrative, backed by original visuals. It's definitely worth watching for fans of the genre.

Mind Cage offered a decent storyline with a surprising twist at the end. Seeing Martin Lawrence in a serious role was a refreshing change. Melissa Roxburgh, playing the lead detective, offered a commendable performance. And Malkovich, as the "Artist," stood out with his exceptional portrayal. I recommend this film to fans of the genre.

Also, I've seen a lot of criticism claiming it's a rip-off of Silence of the Lambs, but it's amusing because Silence of the Lambs itself drew heavily from Manhunter. Did anyone mention that? Maybe it's because I'm a big fan of this genre, but I'd definitely give this film a solid seven out of ten.

Serial killer movies is quite difficult to make. Much like horror movies, they are constructed around cliche. The key is character build up and craftmanship. Mindcage is full of cliche and none of craftmanship and character build up.

At times the movie seem to be over the top constructed around the cliches, and at that at beginner level, i.e. The red herrings are too obvious, and theses are crucial to mystery movies.

The movie also lacks fluency, i.e. The scenes are mechanically put together in segments with disturbedly incoherency.

Actorwise the selection is poorly made, especially the supporting roles. The husband of the lead character and the prison psychologist is a joke. Martin Lawrence will never be able to pull of a serious character/movie. Malkovitch tries his best, but delivers his standard unsettling character. Knepper is good as the sheriff and is always watchable.

It is not a terrible movie as such, but could have been done better by working the script more and used other actors. The movie uses some tricks to make it different from other serial killer movies. I cannot reveal them here since it would spoil the movie, but I would have used these tricks more and created fusion of horror/serial killer/mystery movie.

All in all, it is not a terrible movie, I have seen much worse. The movie is just flat. IMDB rates it, to this date, 4,1/10 and that is quite correct.

This is a rip off of 'The Silence of the Lambs', pure and simple.

I have no idea how a film maker can be so blatant in stealing someone else's idea.

The acting is good, even the script isn't bad, but at each turn the scenes lifted from Silence, music riffing off Red Dragon and Hannibal, are actually grating.

I've seen worse films, and yet very few more difficult to watch because it feels like the audience is participating in this theft of another's work. It's a shame, because had the writer chosen to come up with ideas of their own to move the plot along, it might have been a half decent thriller.

Only John Malkovich is worth mentioning in this bad, very bad, copycating. Thoroughly unconvincing, badly written and amateurish! I have read that Lawrence gained some weight for this !? Why oh why he bothered. He is especially unconvincing along with the female leading role. I had a notion from the very beginning of the movie that everything will collapse at some time. Crumbling started even before. The story unfolding is hilarious, plot childish like everything else. Do actors have regrets for taking part in flicks like this or the money is good consolation for taking part in this ridicule!?

This is such a blatant rip off of silence of the lambs that it doesn't even try to hide it. They should've just name the two characters Clarice and Hannibal and got it over with. With that being said, it's not a terrible movie by any stretch but so many parallels to SOTL that's it's hard to ignore and enjoy.

John Malkovitch is excellent as always, but I'm surprised that he took the role knowing about the rip off. In the movie they are chasing a copy cat killer which is interesting because this is a copy cat movie.

They even trick the serial killer into leaving his cell so they can go in and investigate just like they did to Lecter in SOTL.

Ah man, this was simply in a word....bad. The two lead actors had absolutely no chemistry whatsoever which is surprising watching Martin Lawrence in some of his previous films with Steve Zahn, Danny DeVito and of course Will Smith, where the chemistry was always spot on. I've never heard or even seen that lady who played his partner who was nothing more than a Clarice Starling surrogate in anything else worth watching, who had a much meatier script and way more screen time than Martin and still couldn't pull off making this watchable. I turned it off five times before even finishing because the story was so flat. It had vibes of Silence of Lambs in which Malcolvich is the supposedly Hannibal Lecter surrogate....not and a slight vibe of Seven because of the way methodical ways the serial killers left his victims. Overall this serial killer film is barely watchable only because it's mundane and has been done a whole lot better before. What was Martin thinking......ouch.

The movie itself copy the Seven and Silence of the Lambs formula, but with a far worst cast and an extremely low budget for the Fx's.

So, first acting is bad keeping in mind who the main characters are here. The only who make an OK job is John Malkovich. All the others are pretty bad here.

Second, the script is interesting till it become obvious. The Twist is Ok, but not credible. So, it's just a bit dissapointing.

Last, Fx's are the worst I've seen in a long time. It's soap Opera level. Looks like they couldn't even shot an action scene decently.

So, even all it's flaws, it is quite entertaining if your are looking for the new version of The Silence of the Dambs.

So, I just watched "MINDCAGE," and it was pretty gripping. It mixes traditional detective story with a bit of supernatural stuff, and the direction and the visual did also a good job keeping my interest alive. The actors really bring their A-game, pulling you into the story and keeping you hooked till the very end. But speaking of the end, it's a bit...unexpected. Some folks might find it a tad out of place given all the tension leading up to it. Still, "MINDCAGE" leaves a lasting impression. It's the kind of movie that gets under your skin and sticks with you, making you ponder its twists and turns long after the credits roll. I'll recommend it.

There is absolute zero connection between Melissa Roxburgh vs Martin Lawrence & the rest of the crew. This destroyed all my enthusiasm to watch this hunt for a serial killer. There is no magic at all in her acting, as already noticed how she also ruined my pleasure in watching almost four seasons of Manifest.

Besides this terrible fact, the story feels like a copycat by itself. Sorry, normally I like John Malkovich very much, but here he can not even come close to for instance Anthony Hopkins, who played also a mindplaying monster, helping a detective from his cell, in the hunt for another serial killer who copies The Artist's killings.

A classic detective thriller with a demonic edge, this film manages to keep the suspense running till the very end. With one of the most dramatic and scary personal chase sequences ever brought to the big or small screen, this film has it all, including a strong cast (John Malkovich and Martin Lawrence in a surprisingly convincing non comedic role.)

Now available on Netflix and Tubi, if you have a spare evening, watch this movie. Some great lines, a truly chilling storyline and believable characters played by a superb cast, all add up to make this a movie well worth a look. Recommended: 8/10.

No pun intended - and no f given either! It would make it a different kind of art if I used it - this having Martin Lawrence in it and all, you'd be excused if you'd think it would be funnier. But instead we get Malkovich channeling his inner Hopkins.

Maybe the movie will have lost you already if you see and compare it to Silence of the Lambs. Martin Lawrence who really went all the way to be as believable as possible is trying his best too. And the movie is quite fine I reckon - it has enough twists and turns to keep you interested until the end ... well as you can guess there are surprises for that too.

Suspend your disbelief and try to go with the flow ... or watch Clarice doing her thing once more ...

This tries so hard to be every good thriller ever made wrapped into 1 and the acting is HORRENDOUS. The flashbacks are laughable. A copy cat serial killer is on the loose and a new pretty detective is partnered with an older black detective who lost his partner in a gruesome way and he's now jaded. The line "she's not ready" just so typical. It rips off Seven, Silence of the Lambs, copycat and it does it horribly. It's just bad. Really bad. Even John Malkovich couldn't save this movie. Skip this one. I watched it for free and I feel like I got ripped off, so save yourself the $ and your time. It's THAT bad.

It's not just that its a rip-off of serial killer movies that are actually good... cheap imitation isn't the worst thing in the world.

From the beginning it was obvious that no one involved in this movie knew anything about police or the prison system but I convinced myself to ignore that and suspend my disbelief. I tried so hard to give this movie a chance to not be terrible.

There is a moment when it seems like things are pointing towards an ending that would have actually been interesting and explained some stuff... but that moment is fleeting and immediately after... this movie just decides to change genres. They could have done some spooky unexplained stuff without going full sci-fi but they didn't and I'm mad at this ending.

Who wrote that?? Who greenlit this crap?? I have so many questions.

Calling this a weak copy of the Silence of the Lambs would be an understatement.

As a movie it sort of worked, it was okay-ish. Watchable. Proper production value, acceptable to moderately good acting. Semi decent script. But in general, it's a textbook illustration for the word "derivative". If it was a high school production from amateur film enthusiasts, I'd give it a stranding ovation. Really not even one original idea, just a collection of bits from much better works.

Still, as I said, it was not horrible. Certainly not good either.

Martin Lawrence was definitely a miscast. It was a commendable effort on his part to try and be serious, but he really could not pull it off. He has a great talent for comedy, but this just wasn't his cup of tea. Luckily, his shortcomings could not ruin the film much.