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Movie Review: Thr3e
"Thr3e," a movie for lovers of truly bad films
By John Wirt
jwirt@theadvocate.com
Advocate movie critic
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out of 4 stars.
Thr3e represents something new in Hollywood. This mystery-thriller is a product of Fox Faith, a recently founded “faith-based” division of entertainment giant 20th Century Fox.
Based on the best-selling novel by Ted Dekker, Thr3e is not a promising start for the franchise. Amateurishly staged and badly acted, it suffers further from silly special effects and continuity problems. Viewers likewise are thrown into a fuzzy, plot-deprived story that lacks shape, rhythm, suspense and frights.
Yet in the realm of bad movies, Thr3e can be appreciated for its awfulness.
Marc Blucas heads the cast as Kevin Parson, a seminary student stalked by a serial killer in the mode of Saw’s Jigsaw. The shadowy killer specializes in planting bombs on or near his victims. If his targets can’t answer one of the killer’s riddles, a fiery explosions ensues.
As the imperiled Kevin, Blucas is either frowning or running. To put it kindly, it’s a narrow performance.
Kevin draws the attention of a police psychologist whose brother was killed by the bomber. Justine Waddell co-stars as Jennifer Peters, a supposed law enforcement pro whose interest in Kevin turns downright creepy. Laura Jordan’s Samantha figures prominently in Kevin’s life, too, as the strangely calm childhood sweetheart who suddenly shows up to help him decipher the killer’s identity.
Mad bomber aside, the extended family that raised the orphaned Kevin is Thr3e’s real horror show. Priscilla Barnes of Three’s Company fame and Tom Bower play the bizarre Aunt Belinda and Uncle Eugene. They and their retarded son, Bob, waddle on the screen like John Waters rejects.
The dreadful Thr3e is something only fans of deeply bad movies can love.
