SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS: A Father And Son Story, The Glickenhaus Way
Schlockmania considers James Glickenhaus to be an unsung auteur. Starting with The Exterminator in 1980, he made a series of unique and action-packed films over the next decade and a half (he also started up a production/distribution outlet that allowed Frank Henenlotter to make his satirical grindhouse classic Frankenhooker). If you look at films like The Soldier and The Protector, you'll see a distinctive mix of unusual plot hooks, casually offbeat humor and a crisp visual style used to capture elaborate action.
SlaughterOf The Innocents was Glickenhaus' next-to-last film. In this one, he turns his attention to theserial killer thriller subgenre that had become so popular in the wake of The Silence Of The Lambs.Appropriately, he got Scott Glenn from that film to topline here as StephenBroderick, a maverick FBI agent who specializes in tracking down serialkillers. Unlike his fellow agents, he has a unique secret weapon: his brainiaccomputer-whiz son, Jesse (played by the writer/director's son, JesseCameron-Glickenhaus).
Jesse makes a connection between a recent murder in Utahand an older unsolved murder in the same state, theorizing that both are thework of a previously undetected serial killer. When the wrong man is executed for the older killing, Stephen makes apoint of finding the real killer. As he hunts for the culprit, he finds anunderworld of cultists and child abuse. Jesse is determined to help, bringing himself to the killer's attentionas he sneaks out on his own to uncover more clues. This sets the stage for afinale that is action-packed and unusual in the trademark Glickenhaus style.
Critics often slag off Slaughter Of The Innocents for a lack of realism, like a federalagent taking his kid to a murder scene and allowing him to contribute analysisand clues. To Schlockmania, this un-reality is what it makes it fun: someviewers have described this film as a combination of The Silence Of The Lambs and EncyclopediaBrown. That should clue you in to the fun available here: it combineshard-hitting action, a dollop of horror and procedural elements with acompletely unexpected story of a father trying to impart life lessons to aprecocious son who is growing into his teen years.
This esoteric stew of elements shouldn't work but itdoes. The first reason why is the professionalism of Glickenhaus behind thecamera: by this time in his career, he understood how to put together a filmwith production values slick enough to compete with Hollywood and had developeda flair for staging suspense and eye-popping action with a sleek visual style. Thisresults in highlights like a creepy moment where the killer stalks an agent ina library and a jaw-dropping finale that mixes kids in peril, fisticuffs, sharpinstruments and a curious interpretation of biblical scripture.
The second reason SlaughterOf The Innocents works is because there is a genuine sense of convictiondriving its eccentric premise. Glickenhaus has said in interviews that the story was inspired by theexperience of having a son and all the concerns that come with raising him.Thus, even though this has periodic splashes of blood and grim plot elementsabout cultists and a serial killer, it's ultimately a sentimental story about afather and his son. It even closes witha walk-and-talk scene between the two that plays like something out of a veryunusual afterschool special. Thesemoments are delivered with heart and sensitivity that just add to the film'sunpredictability factor.
If you're already a fan of Scott Glenn, his work hereadds another attribute. He clearly was having fun carrying a film here, drawingon his tough guy side when he needs to but also digging into the scenes wherehe has to be fatherly and displaying a charmingly low-key sense of humor thatfits the movie's sensibility. He's thecalm eye of the storm that keeps this unusual combo of elements anchored.
Some viewers cry nepotism about the casting ofCameron-Glickenhaus here but given that he was the inspiration for the film,his casting seems oddly apropos. He gives a quirky, deadpan performance thatworks for the strange conceit of a kiddie serial-killer profiler/sleuth: forexample, he has a legitimately funny scene where he interrogates a crook whohas some information he needs. Elsewhere, Kazaan is compelling as a killer who is as tormented as he isscary and the eclectic supporting cast includes Darlanne Fluegel, Kevin Sorboand a young Aaron Eckhart.
In short, SlaughterOf The Innocents furthers Schlockmania's theory of Glickenhaus asauteur. Only he could come up with aserial killer thriller that doubles as a father-son story - and the mixture ofconviction and polish he brings to the proceedings ensures that it feels likethe work of someone with a singular vision.
Blu-Ray Notes: Synapse recently reissued this on blu-ray. The transfer does well by the slickness of the production, delivering color and detail in the style expected from this company. It also includes a barrage of supplements, including a director's commentary, new interviews with FX designer Gabe Bartalos and DP Mark Irwin, vintage interviews and a neat EPK from when the film debuted as an HBO original feature. Recommended for Glickenhaus fans.