Rating: three stars

A NUTTER stalks young women, captures them, then brutally murders them. This pretty well sums up the plot of this film.

But saying this, the film was slick and seemed to rise above the usual nutter v damsel in distress plot that has been repeatedly produced in films.

And as for the main character, OK, he was wooden in The Gift, overacted a treat in Bill and Ted, had the most ludicrous English accent ever heard by man in Dracula and Much Ado About Nothing but it seems Mr Keanu 'no way dude' Reeves has turned the acting corner.

Reeves plays Griffin, a psychotic killer who rubs his hands with glee as he plays mind games with Campbell, a washed-out detective, played by James Spader.

Both Reeves and Spader carry off their roles superbly, portraying believable characters who contrast each other brilliantly.

Spader is the cop with numerous problems who pops medication like a man just back from a closing down sale at his local chemist.

Reeves, on the other hand, is a slick operator whose plans are carried out with military precision.

His method of sending the police a photo of the victim he will target the next day is cold and calculating and adds urgency and excitement.

Extras include deleted scenes and trailers.

HC