Damaged movie review: Samuel L Jackson is a sordid serial killer thriller

Film: Damaged
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Vincent Cassel, Gianni Capaldi, Kate Dickie, John Hannah, Laura Haddock, Brian McCardie, Samantha Coughlan
Director: Terry McDonough
Rating: 2 and a half stars
Runtime: 98 min

TV veteran Terry McDonough’s (Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul) first theatrical feature is a serial killer whodunit that follows the genre routine and becomes quite obvious because of it. The cloud-drenched Scotland location, the eerie camerawork, the drummed-up score and competent performances make it watchable.
 
Dan Lawson (Samuel L Jackson), a Chicago detective, is sent to Scotland to assist Chief Inspector Boyd (Gianni Capaldi) and his partner, Kessler (Kate Dickie) after a series of murders that resemble the ones he was investigating five years ago. Lawson’s girlfriend was one of the previous victims. The modus operandi seems similar with the victims being dismembered and various body parts rearranged into the shape of a cross, accompanied by markings indicating satanic rituals.
 
Bravo (Vincent Cassel), Lawson’s former partner, now a crime novelist, has also been called in to assist. Both Lawson and Boyd have personal demons to conquer. Lawson is unable to control his drinking following his girlfriend’s murder and Boyd is coping with the death of his child and a strained relationship with his wife (Laura Haddock). John Hannah has a supporting role as a chief suspect whose alibi might be good enough to clear him.
 
The plotting is convoluted. The murders are sordid and gory. Thankfully, we don’t get to see the action in detail – just glimpses of the aftermath. The camerawork by Matthias Potsch involves more shadow than light, which becomes frustrating after a point. Andrea Ridolfi’s shuddery score adds weight to the heavy atmosphere for such Stygian occurrences. Jackson looks troubled, Capaldi (also the co-scriptwriter) looks suitably haunted, Cassel looks personable, Hannah makes for an ideal psycho suspect and Kate Dickie manages to stay relevant with a brief but impressive turn. There’s nothing really distinguishing about this British Police procedural that conveniently flips the whodunit to make it twisty and unlikely.