Glimmer Man, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -4

A serial killer is on the loose in this action thriller, and former covert operator Jack Cole (Steven Seagal) is paired with veteran homicide detective Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans) to try and identify the murderer. Called to a crime scene, Cole discovers that his ex-wife and her husband are the latest victims. Clues appear to point in his direction, and Cole suspects these killings are not the work of the serial killer. Instead they're tied to his secretive past and sinister forces who don't want him to interfere with their evil schemes. Seagal's performance is typical for his films, as Cole sports prayer beads and spouts Buddhist philosophy in hushed tones, but explodes with a bone-breaking martial arts attack when confronted by bad guys. Wayans is supposed to inject some humor as Seagal's partner, but a weak script limits his effectiveness. with this unimaginative and dull film. Also typical for a Seagal film, THE GLIMMER MAN is overloaded with violence, much of it excessive. The bad guys basically serve as punching bags, as Seagal peppers them with punches and kicks. Two fights end with the villains impaled one on some construction equipment and another on a decorative iron fence. Surrounded by bad guys, Seagal pulls out a fake credit card with a retractable razor blade and slashes their throats. He tortures a man by shooting him in the hand and foot in order to extract information. The serial killer is a deranged Roman Catholic who believes he's receiving instructions to kill from Jesus himself. He murders Catholic families and then nails his victims to the wall in a crucifixion pose. Frequent foul language includes 10 regular profanities, three dozen obscenities and 20 crudities. The film has no sexual content, but a morgue scene features uncovered female corpses with breast nudity. The combination of violence and bad language is enough to disqualify the movie for discriminating viewers, and the viciously demeaning portrayal of a religious person is typical Hollywood fare.

Preview Reviewer: Mark Perry
Distributor: Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522