Watched this after it was recommended on a Podcast I listen to. One of the episodes was about Robert Hansen and all his victims. Watching the movie after listening o the podcast makes you realize all the things they left out and the horrific way that he killed all these women. Its a pretty standard police movie only you do know the criminal from the beginning the problem is trying to make the evidence stick to him. Seems like the local cops are on his side in the beginning. Its a pretty good movie to watch. Don't really need to pay attention one hundred percent but you will still under what is going on.
It would have been better if they focused more on Cindy Paulson and what she went through rather than the cop and his home life which really added nothing to the story. Even focusing more on the cop would have been fine but they barely showed anything and you really didn't need that small glimpse you got into his life. Exploring Hansen's family life would have added more to the story too. You don't see much except one interaction but you don't really understand how he could be hiding this big secret from the world. Seeing more of his wife and family might have clarified it.
The acting was amazing in this. Nicolas Cage bought his best and so did John Cusack and Vanessa Hudgens. Cusack went from being soft spoken and stuttering to losing his mind and being angry. I think he did that well and actually looked a bit like the actual killer. Vanessa Hudgens really made you feel for her character but also understand her fright and her situation.
Overall, great movie to watch but not if you want something more than recounting of the events. Doesn't really go deep into anything. And you probably want to avoid this if you are sensitive to violence and sexual assault.