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The Collector Review

Movies.com Critics

2.0

Dave White Profile

His pancreas collection alone is world-class. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 2.0
    29

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally unfavorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 20

    out of 100

    The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

    Offers agony in a vacuum, a villain without a motive and a hero with more personal problems than lines of dialogue.

    Read Full Review

  • 20

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

    In the absence of a sturdy, plausible foundation on which to hook all those grisly bits, the film, originally a Dimension release, tends to play out more like a protracted "Saw" outtake reel.

    Read Full Review

  • 25

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    The result is a sub-"Saw" knockoff that manages to be brutal yet monotonous, not to mention monstrously unpleasant.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times

    Either you go for this sort of extreme, senseless gore or you don't. With its plot and lead performance, The Collector is, at least, an unusual specimen.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety

    With both feet planted firmly on the sticky accelerator of the torture-porn vehicle, The Collector is a surprisingly stylish and confident high-concept thriller.

    Read Full Review

  • See all The Collector reviews at Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

not for kids

Grisly horror film is smothered in blood and gore.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this exceptionally grisly "torture porn" movie is steeped in gore and full of grotesque cruelty perpetrated against both adults and children. While the movie does depict a character making a positive choice (he tries to save some of the killer's victims), any potential positive take-away is shrouded in so much blood and gore that it's next to impossible to make out. There's also lots of strong language (including "f--k" and "s--t"), a few topless scenes (as well as some passionate making out), and some smoking.

  • Families can talk about how the film mixes sex and violence. Why does that happen so frequently in horror movies? Is it just part of the "fun" of the genre, or does it objectify women?
  • Why do you think the character of the serial killerwith elaborate plans has become popular in recent years? Is it the cultural influence ofmovies like Saw, The Silence of the Lambs, and Seven? Or does it go deeper than that?

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: Nihilistic and bleak, the movie's cental mesage seems to be that killing is wrong ... but looks super cool if you film it right.

  • rolemodels true0

    Role models: Although the movie centers on a serial killer's brutal dispatchment of his victims, the movie's lead character does act in a heroic fashion by trying to save a family that's been targeted by the killer (of course, that's after he goes to their house intending to rob them to raise money so his lover can avoid loan sharks, but...).

What to watch for
  • violence false5

    Violence: Constant, extreme, bloody violence as a serial killer dispatches his victims. People are forcibly abducted; a man is hauled off his feet by a winch, then let go to fall three stories; a bound woman has her mouth sewn shut; an acidic glue entraps a cat; a cat is sliced in half by a guillotine. A young man is killed by falling into a vast sum of bear traps. Another is eviscerated, and the camera lingers on his body. A young woman is hurled onto a wall covered with spikes. A chandelier festooned with knives falls onto a man. A man is struck in the eye by a hurled knife. A violent car crash. A dead man's body is used as a battering ram. A dog tears out a man's throat (the dog is later killed, set aflame, and used as a weapon). And much, much more.

  • sex false4

    Sex: Naked breasts are shown (both during a make-out scene and in strip-club scenes). Some kissing and discussion of "doing it" between a teen couple. A couple that's passionately kissing and touching (with her topless) is interrupted by a creepy killer watching them ... and then a series of deathtraps. Some frisky talk between a married couple before they're interrupted by a killer.

  • language false4

    Language: Some strong language, including several uses of "f--k," "motherf---er," "s--t," "bitch," "hell," "faggot," "damn," "oh my God," "goddamn," and more.

  • consumerism false1

    Consumerism: A car is identified as a Mustang.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: A character smokes; a teen pesters him for "a drag," and he complies.

Fan Reviews provided by

5

The Collector Scared the ****out of Me! by horrorluvah
Ever since the first SAW movie, I've been a huge fan of the trapped, must escape tension of the franchise. Because I thought I had seen it all, I wasn't expecting much when I went to see The Collector last night, but I was so, so wrong. From the opening credits, which are bad *** and have a killer soundtrack, to the first five minutes, the stage was set to be scared. The movie starts off minimally freaky and quickly dives into screaming, clutching my loved-ones, stomach in my throat fear. This has nothing on SAW; it's in a league of its own. I totally recommend this movie. If you see it tonight, take a friend; you'll need it.

5

People like jelloman143 are WRONG by Mrtrent
This was a fantastic film! Yes, it didn't have any pop-ups! It didn't use recycled and pointless scares with a quick pop up with loud music that so many bad horror films over use. This movie uses real suspense and gives a great sense of anxiety that creates a real sense of terror in your bones. And sure, it wasn't a movie that took place in several locations, with several victims, like so many other slasher and torture movies do such as...Nightmare on elm street, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Red Dragon, Hanibal, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, ect. That is why this film is great. It shows ever detail about one specific night in the Collectors world. Every gory detail. That makes room for sequels, which I am looking forward to. If you want cheap scares like from " my bloody valentine" and want to listen to jelloman143, then go ahead But if you want to feel genuine terror, feel sheer fright, have a sense of dread, and see absolute horror, watch this.

3

A Not So Great Imitation by magentafan20
I am an avid horror movie watcher and I was excited to see The Collector, but I was a bit disappointed with this film. I really wanted it to be creepy and scary with just the right amount of gore injected in, (aka Saw, a great balance between a plot, gore, jumps, and irony) but there is next to no plot line and zero character development. I really wanted to know more about the killer and his motivation about why he kills and why he chooses the families that he does, but none of that is revealed. To me, this film reads too much like a bad imitation of Hostel with a killer too close to that of Jigsaw (Saw), but not nearly as intelligent. I do have to say that the music was excellent and actually created quite a bit of tension throughout the beginning bits of the traps. The end credits were great showing each character alive and then dead. Also the cinematography was very inspired with my favorite shots being the overhead ones showing the characters going in and out of rooms

4

good horror by skinnyt12345
i love horror and suspense. this was great! read the reviews. who was the RETARD who took their grandchildren to a movie like this? people like that shouldn't breed. GO TO THE MOVIE WITHOUT CHILDREN.

4

Best horror movie in a long time. by redyeah
No movie has made me cringe like this one in a very long time. The death scenes are brutal, just the way I like. The mystery still remains as to why all this happened, but that just keeps it entertaining.

4

Anything but boring...If you liked Saw, youll like it by jnxnjaded
It was intense. bone crushing gore and sick. but worth the watch. lots of times i had to cover my eyes. the only bad thing was i didnt know "why". some was predictablei but this movie had things the other movies to date havent. the one review said they took their grandchildren...????????why would anyone take a child to see a film like this???and if people hated it so bad, why not leave? Im glad we went to see it. we talked about it the whole way home. we watch alot of movies, i wasnt disapointed.

5

An instant classic by actor23
This is a must go for horror buffs, but not for the faint-hearted. It finally plays to its own story versus the desires of a general audience, which is why not all people will like it (although I don't want to contradict myself on the ending, which disappointingly enough did play to audience appeal). Josh Stewart does a wonderful job in this movie, and finally represents a main character in a thriller that the audience can attach themselves to. The score is great, and the cinematography is very refreshing. All in all, this is almost the perfect horror movie. Anyone who says this movie is crap can't differentiate their own opinions from the likes of a very solid movie. And for those who say this movie doesn't have a plot, seriously, grow a brain and then come back. If you don't know anything about movies, don't comment. You only make yourself look stupid.

4

Genuine terror with raw detail by jbird113
I've seen horror films before. i've never been a huge fan of modern horror films, as I feel they are just cheap scares that you get over within seconds. This one has every right to be called a horror film. The time span of this movie is less than 24 hours, the bulk of it taking place within about a couple hours. It is in real time. So much so that you feel you are in the house. I came out of the theater with adrenaline pumping for twenty minutes after the movie was over. If you like a real scare, this is your movie. On the downside, although there is very good suspense, there really isn't much of a plot. Also, if you aren't a fan of grotesque imagery, this movie is not for you. However, in my opinion the good outweighs the bad, and this movie is definitely worth the money.

4

The Collector by festusccc10
Loved the movie. A little gory but that's right up my alley! Sometimes it was hard to see because the movie took place in a house with no lights but you adjust after a while. Seemed like it might have been over-edited as there wasn't much intro as to why the guy was doing it etc but still came out well. The ending took me quite by surprise - but it did leave the door open for a Collector II. Which I would go see...

5

if you liked the Saw movies...... by moviecreep
Similar to a SAW movie, a cousin to the TEXAS CHAINSAW massacre it was worth going to see. The killer is much more smarter, experienced, and creative in this one, and knows exactly what he wants. He anticipates his victims every move and attempts to corner them in. The killer has a very precious type of collection which you will find out halfway through the movie, but at the end, you will realize just how selective and unique he can be. This is every family's worse nightmare and its pretty obvious to me that if your going to hire any type of people to work in or outside of your home, do a thorough background check on all of them or take a field trip with them through airport security. You'll be glad you did.

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