As happens daily, Netflix has once again refreshed its list of the most-watched movies of the week in the United States, and now a crime thriller has secured the eighth position within the top 10, according to Flix Patrol.
The Postcard Killings is the new trend that you can find in the streaming giant’s catalog. Although it was released in 2020, the movie managed to quickly and concisely captivate users once again.
The cast, led by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is filled with talented stars. It was directed by Danis Tanovic from a screenplay by Andrew Stern and Ellen Furman, based on the book of the same name written by Liza Marklund and James Patterson.
The Postcard Killings is the eighth most watched movie on Netflix US
The Postcard Killings is the new crime and mystery thriller that has become the eighth most-watched movie on Netflix in the United States, surpassing other significant titles like “Fried Green Tomatoes” with Kathy Bates.
According to the metrics-specialized site Flix Patrol, the production has quickly become a trend, so it’s expected to continue climbing the charts as the hours pass and the number of views increases.
Like any good crime thriller, suspense and chaos are essential. This time, the story follows the investigation of a series of serial murders involving postcards sent to journalists with graphic details of the crimes.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) portrays the main character, Detective Jacob Kanon, while Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife) plays journalist Dessie Lombard, and Famke Janssen (X-Men) portrays Kanon’s wife, Valerie.
What is The Postcard Killings about?
The story follows Detective Jacob Kanon as he investigates a series of brutal murders throughout Europe. The murders are connected by postcards that are sent to local journalists before the crimes are committed.
For this reason, Kanon decides to partner with journalist Dessie Lombard to trace the killers and uncover their motivation. However, not everything is as easy as it seems, and chaos quickly takes control.
What did the critics say about The Postcard Killings?
The critical reception of The Postcard Killings was mostly negative, as it received criticism for its predictable plot and for not fully realizing the potential of the source material. However, not everything was entirely negative, and some had their praises.
Dennis Harvey of Variety was one who quickly wrote a review in March 2020, stating, “While Tanovic somewhat gratuitously stops short of showing the gruesome results of these serial murders, the actual violence occurs off-screen, and given the nature of its story, the film seems strangely uninterested in emphasizing action, fear, or excitement“.
Red Reed of Observer described the film as “tasteless in almost every respect”, calling the thriller a “puzzle of many twisted parts played by a large and poorly directed cast“.
Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter joined his professional colleagues and wrote, “Unfortunately, none of the storylines proves convincing, despite the lurid nature of the crimes, various surprising and vulgar plot twists, and Jacob’s struggle to deal with his profound grief even as he tries to act professionally“.
However, Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times was a bit more forgiving, stating, “Oscar-winning director ‘No Man’s Land,’ Danis Tanović, gives an artistic touch to the lurid cop story”, but also noting that the mystery elements didn’t generate much mystery.
