The Barber

"The Barber" is one of those did-he-or-didn't-he? thrillers that more readily asks another question, the answer to which is: Yes, they did ... make a seriously dumb movie.

An apparent serial-killer-wannabe tracks down his would-be mentor in this underwhelming thriller.

The film ... delivers its plot twists muddily and doesn't really distinguish itself from the countless other creepy-killer tales out there.

An ambitious, if wildly uneven, character study that relies on a taut script, snappy dialogue, and a few well-placed plot twists ...

What remains rote is how easily the fiend's victims fall for his tricks. It's almost as if they've seen too many movies like "The Barber," and shaved away all common sense.

Only Glenn, whose taciturn performance is punctuated by flashes of genuine menace, lifts The Barber to "watchable."

The acting and the direction shows enough promise to keep it from being buried alive, but it might not be the worst idea to put "The Barber" out of its misery and ignore it.

Well-cast, well-played, sharply cut...but it talks talks talks you to death in the third act

With a slow-burn sensibility and veteran actor Scott Glenn used to strong effect, this modest thriller will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up