Thrillers and murder mysteries are as evergreen a genre as horror. People love the adrenaline rush that comes with a race against time, the catharsis of seeing a monster being stopped, and the mind-bending puzzles accompanying the journey along the way. With the rise in popularity of true-crime shows reminding us that real life is just as morbid as fantasy, it's nice to retreat back to a genre firmly rooted in fiction.
The upcoming film Mindcage, directed by Mauro Borrelli, looks to be another noteworthy thriller starring someone you may not expect: Martin Lawrence. The film is being made courtesy of Lionsgate, a studio intimately familiar with the thriller genre, having significant involvement in the Saw franchise on top of Dragged Across Concrete and the Knives Out franchise.
Here's everything we know about Mindcage.
Mindcage: The Plot
The official trailer for Mindcage features a plot synopsis that reads:
"In this spellbinding thriller, detectives Jake Doyle (Martin Lawrence) and Mary Kelly (Melissa Roxburgh) seek the help of an incarcerated serial killer named The Artist (John Malkovich) when a copycat killer strikes. While Mary searches for clues in The Artist’s brilliant but twisted psyche, she and Jake are lured into a diabolical game of cat and mouse, racing against time to stay one step ahead of The Artist and his copycat."
Fans of the thriller genre will likely immediately draw parallels to Hannibal Lecter, a character originally created by author Thomas Harris. It's a familiar story that will likely rely more on the performances of the film's leads to draw the audience's interest.
There's a possible implication that The Artist and the copycat may be more closely linked together than either one lets on, and seeing as how Doyle's character is linked to The Artist through one of his victims, there's some prime material for dramatic confrontations and tense moments.
What especially sets Mindcage apart from its contemporaries is The Artist, or more specifically, how The Artist displays his victims. Each one is given a statuesque display, and their skin turned to a pristine pale color as they're adorned with ornate decorations, wings, and elaborately-made pieces of clothing. There are multiple hints that each murder is symbolic in some way, referencing fallen angels, exorcisms, and spirits. As the first body found in the trailer is also discovered in a church, we'll likely see themes relating to religion or religious beliefs during the investigation, further compounded by name-dropping the archangel Samael.
Mindcage: The Cast
The leading role of Jack Doyle will be played by Martin Lawrence. Across his career, Lawrence has been primarily associated with the comedy genre, starring in the titular sitcom Martin as well as films like Big Momma's House, the Death at a Funeral remake, and Black Knight. However, he has also dabbled in more dramatic roles alongside Will Smith in the Bad Boys franchise. Mindcage will be a significant deviation from Lawrence's previous work, being a staunchly serious thriller film. We'll see him flex his acting chops as a grizzled detective.
Mary Kelly will be played by Melissa Roxburgh, who held a leading role in the series Manifest. Originally airing on NBC, the series was picked up by Netflix for a fourth season, where it saw immediate success on the streaming platform. Having a background in dramatic acting will certainly help her give a compelling performance, as she and The Artist were frequently interacting in the film's trailer. She soon finds herself a potential target, though whether it's the copycat killer or The Artist gunning for her remains unknown.
The Artist, the film's main antagonist, will be played by John Malkovich. An acclaimed actor known for his roles in Being John Malkovich, Of Mice and Men, and In The Line of Fire, Malkovitch has had a varied career playing leading heroes and nefarious villains. As The Artist, he'll be a cunning serial killer obsessed with the fine arts, aiming to stop a copycat killer alongside Kelly and Doyle.
Rounding out the cast, there will also be appearances by Aiden Turner (All My Children), Ritchie Montgomery (The Hammer), Jacob Grodnik (The Fanatic), and Chris Mullinax (The Comeback Trail).
Release Date
Mindcage will release in theaters, digitally, and On Demand on December 16th, 2022.
Everything Else
The film is noteworthy for having been filmed, at least partially, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Whether the film will actually be set in the city or state remains to be seen, but it's always a wonderful sight to see on-site filmmaking in unique locations.
Mindcage will also be written by Reggie Keyohara III and Mauro Borrelli. The two have collaborated together for Borrelli's previous film, The Recall, released in 2017. In addition to directing, Borrelli also has a background in visual arts, providing concept art for films like The Hateful Eight, Tropic Thunder, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.