What can I say about DTV movies that hasn't already been said? Not a whole lot. You go in expecting a forgettable experience and the majority of the time that's exactly what you get. Thankfully 'Absence Of The Good' is actually decent.
Here we find Caleb Barnes (Baldwin) as a Salt Lake City homicide detective trying to settle back into his job after losing his son. His wife is still somewhat shattered by it, but Caleb puts on a strong face and tries to move on. Naturally soon he and his partner become entangled in a series of murders who's linked nature only becomes apparent as they pick up the pieces, but it's time they can't afford as the killer continues to strike out at the innocent.
Now I know what you're thinking. At first glance 'Absence' seems like any other serial killer movie to come along. What sets it apart is it's tightly filmed, acted and shot. Never once does it become bogged down or try to be something it's not. There's some fine themes about children, loss, innocence and the evil men do.
Stephen Baldwin turns in his usual self and for once his mannerisms don't sink the movie, but actually fit in nicely. Under the direction of John Flynn (who did 1987's Best Seller) the story is somewhat slow going, but it builds to an end that hits the right note. With a supporting cast of Tyne Daly as a psychologist and Robert Knepper particularly strong as Caleb's partner. For a low budget television movie the results are decent.
Here we find Caleb Barnes (Baldwin) as a Salt Lake City homicide detective trying to settle back into his job after losing his son. His wife is still somewhat shattered by it, but Caleb puts on a strong face and tries to move on. Naturally soon he and his partner become entangled in a series of murders who's linked nature only becomes apparent as they pick up the pieces, but it's time they can't afford as the killer continues to strike out at the innocent.
Now I know what you're thinking. At first glance 'Absence' seems like any other serial killer movie to come along. What sets it apart is it's tightly filmed, acted and shot. Never once does it become bogged down or try to be something it's not. There's some fine themes about children, loss, innocence and the evil men do.
Stephen Baldwin turns in his usual self and for once his mannerisms don't sink the movie, but actually fit in nicely. Under the direction of John Flynn (who did 1987's Best Seller) the story is somewhat slow going, but it builds to an end that hits the right note. With a supporting cast of Tyne Daly as a psychologist and Robert Knepper particularly strong as Caleb's partner. For a low budget television movie the results are decent.