As a a script writer for hire and UK script consultant I’m a massive Diane Lane fan boy, and this weekend I dug out Untraceable from 2008, a ‘Silence of The Lambs’ style serial killer film, with an internet slant.
It’s very hard writing a thriller that uses the latest internet trends as a base of its plot. Usually, by the time the film is made and released the latest trends have moved on, leaving the film looking old hat.
Untraceable just about gets away with still seeming fairly relevant by its focus on characters as well as the tech, and finally the actual plot of Untraceable is really a revenge suspense thriller which would work with or without the internet angle.
Diane is excellent as always and it’s good to see her used well in a horror/thriller – and for fans of gore, the film is surprising gruesome in some aspects. Diane is a web expert and detective who helps to track an anonymous online killer, who uses the internet to live stream the deaths of his victims. The more people log on to watch – the quicker the deaths happen.
What I enjoyed most about the film (bar Diane) was the performances, small players are given time to develop their characters, and the casting is often interesting and intelligent. Finally, it’s a small pot boiler with good photography and atmosphere. There’s a slight sense that the film could have been more, bigger, more complicated and less direct, but it’s satisfying entry into the serial killer genre nonetheless.
Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire, UK Script editor and UK script consultant for over 20 years. He’s written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and has been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a script writer. His UK script coverage service and script development service are highly sought after.
You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb.His directorial debut, the rubber reality horror thriller Markham will be released in 2020. You can find out more about Matthew’s work as a director here.
You can get in touch with Matthew on matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk.