2:13
The Story

A police profiler (Mark Thompson) has just returned from psychiatric leave only to find that   he is caught up in a serial killer's rampage. Fighting to keep buried the trauma of his childhood, he must confront the all too-familiar flesh masks that the killer leaves on the faces of his victims. He must face his own demons along with the killer to save his small eroding existence.

Many times, independent thrillers tend to concentrate on the look and style of the film, and completely overlook the talent and performances. 2:13 brings together an ensemble cast that rivals most major motion pictures, and delivers in each performance.

 

IMBD Review of 2:13

Unbelievable goofs, but somewhat enjoyable

*** 6 January 2014 | by Raymond (Finland)

I'm not exactly sure why I picked this from all the Netflix horror movies, I had never heard of it and the cast looked unknown (with the exception of Kevin Pollak). Sometimes these turn out quite good, but this one didn't really. It was somewhat enjoyable thriller, but there are goofs and stylistic choices that drop the score (a lot).

I'm gonna go straight to the bad stuff. The script and what you'll see on screen don't really match. There are flashbacks of events that seem to happen somewhere between 50s and 70s. The style of this movie looks as if it's from the 90s. Yet the movie is made just a few years ago, so you're not really sure when it takes place. People appearing in the flashbacks and current time age differently. Two people, who are younger and older in flashbacks, appear the other way around in current time. So it's really confusing, I don't know what they were thinking, it's mind boggling. Some people don't seem to have aged at all in a good 20-40 years.

The movie has a big 90's vibe to it, saturated colors, filters, TV series style lighting. Even the cast looks 90's. Kind of like a bigger budget porn movie. Quite weird comparison, but that's what I was thinking a few times. The cast looks like they'd be on a reality show rather than being believable cops - or something, there was something lackluster and even campy in the styling. There's also a strong L.A. feel to it - in a bad way. Kind of like the "Melrose Place" cast had a get together and they made a serial killer movie.

All of the above aside, the story is somewhat gripping and the acting is quite good. Camera work is OK, editing is OK.

People have been mentioning movies like Seven, Silence of the Lambs in their reviews. There is a serial killer, but these movies have absolutely nothing in common apart from that. This could be an extended episode of any cop/crime series from L.A. It's not really horror, there's a few gory scenes, but other than that it's your common crime series stuff.

I'm giving three, because something kept me watching and even enjoying a bit. I'm still not quite sure why I kept watching.

 

+++

 

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Reviews of 2:13 on DVD

 

Michelle O **
September 24, 2014
Besides the fact I knew who the killer was immediately after he was first shown.. It was all right.

 

Love M **
June 18, 2013
Supposedly a convoluted plot that's revealed in the beginning. Perfectly acted, poorly executed! 

 

Amy R ***
September 30, 2012
Willfully derivative of Silence of the Lambs, Seven, etc., the main selling point of this movie is how gleefully it immerses itself in every silly, exploitative hollywood cliche about psychoanalysis and psychopathy. Every killer has a trauma in his past (involving his mother, natch); every shrink sees the Truth of your soul after one revelatory conversation; hypnosis is easy, quick, and perfectly revealing; sexual violence is the inevitable result of castration anxiety... Ridiculous but thoroughly entertaining, though I could have done with less torture porn.

 

David L ** 1/2
June 30, 2012
5/5 for the advertising ploy in saying that it was a blend of 'Saw' and 'Seven', just a pity that was a total lie! It was more like a souped up version of Columbo whereby we followed a hagged looking, chain smoking, alcoholic detective as he goes about his super sleuthing. Unlike Columbo, you don't find out who the culprit is at the start of proceedings, but it wasn't difficult to guess who this was anyway I.e. the only person in the film who wasn't a member of the police force! It was like watching in fast forward, but just a pity that that didn't mean I was able to reach the end quicker. To it's credit, it did have a form of storyline which did all piece together nicely following the usual twist ending, but it was all too predictable and added no originality or any element to make me want to watch this again! If I was a total cretin, I'd probably sue the film company for false advertising in suggesting it bore resembelence to 'Saw' and 'Seven'. However, given that I rented this from a friend, I don't feel cheated out of any money, (just time and energy).

 

Al M ***
April 6, 2012
2:13 is a decent serial killer police procedural that alternates between the detective's story and the killer's. Relatively intelligent, 2:13 devolves into a drama but unfortunately lacks the grittiness of its opening half for the second half of the film. While it loses some of its creepy momentum, the film remains interesting throughout, features solid performances, and some decently twisted revelations. Nothing new, but still engaging. I didn't get to watch the film in a movie theater when it was released in 2009. We were planning on going but a water main broke on the street in front of the brownstone where I lived in Brooklyn. My girlfriend was in the midst of getting ready to go out for dinner and then the movie. She had just put on a wig called Down Time by Raquel Welch that had arrived this morning and was really excited about the new style. My girlfriend loves Raquel Welch wigs and has finally found an online wig store that has great prices and patient, knowledgeable customer support folks. The ecommerce site had had a sale at 25% off about two weeks ago so she bought several. She says she prefers wigs with 100% hand tied monofilament top and lace front cap constructions since it allows her to part the hair anyway she wants as well as wear the style off the face. This wig also had 100% hand tied back and sides making it way more comfortable than a standard or open cap. It's hard to believe the fibers are sythetic since, quite honestly, they mimic the look and feel of protein rich soft and silky, natural hair.

Anyway, there she was with her new lusciously, slightly wavy, style that had gently waved layers that fell to the middle of her back posing for me just before we were to hit the door for the movie. And we had water gushing into our basement apartment! Freak out time. We have several very valuable oriental carpets on our floors that I had acquired when my folks passed. Although the rugs quickly became soaked I rolled them up with her help and be piled them in the bathtub. Totally panicked, we then ran upstairs to our neighbor who quickly did a search for oriental carpet cleaning service NYC! We lucked out on our first call to a company called Sunlight Water Damage Restoration Services. The name cracked us up cuz we felt anything other than Sunlight. A huge gloomy cloud was over us. However they specialized in the cleanup and remediation of residential properties after water damage and they were available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We obviously needed them immediately. By the time they arrived a hour later, Con Ed had gotten the water main break under control so there was now more water flowing into the apartment. The guys from Sunlight started the extraction of the water with their equipment. We spent the next couple of weeks at our neighbors. Fortunately for us he was going away for a 2 week vacation and he said we could stay until he returned. Well in the hassle of the clean up and the restoring of the apartment and buying new household items, 2:13 was forgotten. When we discovered that the DVD was available on Netflix we decided to get it. This time there was no traumatic event that prevented us from watching it. My girl friend decided to wear her Raquel Welch DownTime wig for the occasion.

 

Carl C  July 1, 2010 ***
To begin this film has exceeded my expectations by a mile.
I expected it to be the same as a bunch of other movies I have seen.
I do love the Horror,Thriller genre.I feel this to be more of a mystery thriller.
That said the acting was great,well paced,edge of your seat in your face movie.The director did a great job.I was especially impressed with the twist,mainly because i didn't see it coming.I usually can put my finger on the who dun it but i was really thrown for a loop here.
I gotta say i thought it was going a different direction,and i love the fact that i was way wrong(that is so cool).So to sum it up if you want to see a great who dun it in your face mystery thriller (with a bit of horror thrown in)then i highly recommend giving 2:13 a look,you will not be disappointed.

 

+++

 

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

As the saying goes, movies are made in post.

 

I don’t actually agree with that entirely, but it is a very important step in the long process, and our post is going swimmingly.

Chuck and I went by Steele last week to see some of the visual effects. All are still a work in progress but they look fantastic. We couldn’t be more pleased. Then, the next day we went by Marc Bonnilla’s studio to hear the first reel of music. It too surpassed our expectations. I just talked to Marc and he has now finished reel two and is on reel three.

Zahari, our sound guy, is busy working on separating the dialog, and preparing the film for his touch. All things working in tandem with the other.

We also had our first lunch with the powers that be to discuss how we will approach the world of distribution so we can hopefully put this film in a theatre near you. We anticipate having a completed film by late March or early April.

Chuck and I are very pleased with what we could potentially have, and feel that we are well on our way to reaching our goal, which is to please the fans of this genre. If you enjoy these kinds of movies, then we feel we will have something that you will talk about for a while.

“Sometimes, the most wonderful things come from the darkest corners. And you were blind.”

--Mark Thompson>/p>

 

Thursday, December 6, 2007

A NEW DAY FOR 213

 

Today, it is official, we have LOCKED our edit of “Two:Thirteen.” It has be 4 ½ months since we wrapped principle photography on the film, and as we have hammered our way through editing, I don’t think I could be more pleased with our film. We have gone far beyond even our own expectations, creating a thriller that delivers on so many levels.

Now we begin the post-audio work as well as the DI (Digital Intermediary). We still have several months to go before this film will be ready for theatres, but we all feel it will be worth the wait. Keep checking in for updates, sneak peeks and podcasts.

--Charles Adelman, Director/Producer

 

Greetings from the editing bay

 

Chuck and I officially locked the edit this afternoon at 4:13PM. Would’ve been great if it had been at 2:13 but it didn’t fall that way. Our editor, Russell Harnden did a fantastic job and his work I bow to.

We now move to the 2nd phase of post, which is sound and music. We feel we can get a great deal done before the holidays kick in. We will scan the film soon and sit down with Marc Bonilla and Zahari for a spotting session to discuss our options.

We feel strongly we can have a completely finished film by March, April at the latest. Chuck and I are very excited to show you what we have cooked up.

We all wear masks. We wear one at work, with our significant other, our friends. Only when we are alone, in our private seclusion does the mask come off, and only then are we who we really are. So I close with a question.

Who are you? Do you see?

--Mark Thompson, Writer/Producer/Russell Spivey>/p>

 

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

 

We are so close. So close to locking the edit. Brad Silberling, my director friend, told me that this is the time in the editing process where you feel like it will never end, but it does. We showed the film to 35 non-industry people, just fans of film, to get their take. Many thoughts were shared, some we thought applied, some we didn’t.

Those changes are being made now by our editor Russell Harndon. We will then show it to Brad one last time next week. If Brad has notes we will implement them and lock the film. If he doesn’t, we lock it there on the spot. Either way our goal is to have a lock by the time the Christmas holidays kick in. We will all take a break and come back fresh in 2008 to begin the next phase, music and sound.

Our composer, Marc Bonilla, and our sound technician, Zahari, have already begun piecing ideas together but won’t actually start laying work in until the lock.

Some of the visual effects from Jerry and Jo Steel have started to trickle in and they look great. And even they are still a work in progress.

After music and sound, the next and final phase is processing the actual look of the film, a process known as DI. I know nothing about it so I will let Chuck explain that to you on his next blog.

Chuck and I are hoping to have a completely finished film by March or early April. We made a conscious decision that we were going to wait until the film was completely finished before showing it to the distribution world, so that will come in the spring.

Happy Holidays to you all, and know this. While you sleep with visions of sugarplums dancing in your heads, Chuck and I are planning a way to kill and dismember Santa.

Mark Thompson

 

Thursday, November 8, 2007

As we near completion of this film, I couldn't be happier with the look and style that we have created. We are also starting to see the visual effects from Steele VFX. Jerry and Jo Steele have gone far beyond anythign we can expect. These FX shots will round out the movie and allow us to move forward with completing this film as a whole.

The fan base for "Two:Thirteen" continues to grow, and now we have launched the OFFICIAL WEBSITE which carries over the look and style of the movie. Kevin Puotinen, our behind-the-scenes filmmaker, has created 5 webisodes which cover different parts of the production. We thank everyone for their support and will be giving you the best movie we can.

--Charles Adelman, Director

 

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

 

<>BUSY IN POST

We are busy with the editing of the film, right this second as a matter of fact. It's starting to shape up. We have already shown it to our friends at Revelations Entertainment from which we pulled great notes. We have spent the last few days laying those in and we are preparing for a screening tomorrow with our buddy Brad Silberling, director of 'City of Angels' and 'Limony Snicket.' Brad will be only the third person other than us to see the film. His notes will be critical to helping us bring the film to a version that we want you to see. Just yesterday we received a song from John Waite that will go into the middle of the film. My wife Lynda, who hates these kind of films, watched only the very opening 30 seconds, and I swear to God she almost threw up, to which Chuck replied, "Good." We are very pleased at this point and we are very close to locking the edit and beginning the process of showing it to distributors who we feel will be interested in this sick type of shit. My best to you all and Chuck and I can't wait to sit down with you and show you what we have spent the last two years of our lives doing. We'll talk soon.
-- Mark Thompson

 

POST-PRODUCTION CONTINUES

The post-production of "Two:Thirteen" is going great. We are on our 4th revision of the film and should be locked very soon. The private screenings we have had for our industry friends has been extremely encouraging. You never know what caliber of film you have until you start editing, and we feel we have a very strong film that gives this genre’s fans a film they will look forward to.
-- Charles Adelman, Director/Producer

 

 

More Background on 213TheMovie.com

2:13 is an independent psychological thriller film that has developed a small but devoted cult following since its release in 2009. Directed by Charles Adelman and written by Mark Thompson, who also stars as the lead character, the film follows a troubled police profiler hunting a serial killer who leaves flesh masks on victims' faces. While not widely known, 2:13 has attracted interest from fans of dark, low-budget thrillers for its atmospheric style and complex narrative.

Production and Release

2:13 was produced on a modest budget, with filming taking place in late 2007. The movie was a passion project for writer/star Mark Thompson and director Charles Adelman, who aimed to create an intense psychological thriller that would appeal to genre fans. Post-production stretched into 2008 as the filmmakers worked to refine the edit and add visual effects.

After some delays, 2:13 received a limited theatrical release in 2009, playing primarily at smaller cinemas and genre film festivals. It later became available on DVD and various streaming platforms, allowing it to find a wider audience over time. While exact box office numbers are not readily available, the film appears to have had a very limited initial run before finding most of its viewers through home video and digital release.

Plot and Themes

The story of 2:13 centers on Russell Spivey (Mark Thompson), a police profiler who returns to work after psychiatric leave, only to become embroiled in the case of a brutal serial killer. As Spivey investigates the murders, he must confront traumatic events from his own past that connect to the current killings in unexpected ways.

The killer's signature of leaving flesh masks on victims adds a disturbing visual element that ties into themes of hidden identities and facing one's inner demons. The film explores psychological trauma, the blurred lines between hunter and hunted, and the darkness that can lurk beneath seemingly normal exteriors.

Critics have noted the film's atmospheric cinematography and tense mood as strengths. The non-linear narrative structure, which incorporates flashbacks and dream sequences, has been praised for adding complexity but also criticized by some as potentially confusing. Overall, 2:13 aims for a cerebral, unsettling tone rather than relying on graphic violence or jump scares.

Cast and Crew

While not featuring any major stars, 2:13 assembled a solid cast of experienced character actors:

  • Mark Thompson as Russell Spivey

  • Teri Polo as Amanda Richardson

  • Kevin Pollak as Detective Franks

  • Dwight Hicks as Captain Billings

  • Jere Burns as Dr. Steele

Behind the camera, Charles Adelman directed and co-produced with writer/star Mark Thompson. The film marked Adelman's feature directorial debut after working in television. Cinematographer Amit Bhattacharya and composer Marc Bonilla contributed to crafting the movie's moody visual and sonic atmosphere.

Reception and Legacy

Critical reception for 2:13 was mixed upon its initial release. While some reviewers praised the film's ambition and atmosphere, others found fault with pacing issues and narrative convolutions. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 40% rating based on 10 critic reviews.

Positive reviews tended to highlight the movie's stylish visuals, unsettling tone, and Mark Thompson's intense lead performance. Critics favorably compared elements of 2:13 to acclaimed thrillers like Seven and Silence of the Lambs, while acknowledging it didn't quite reach those heights.

More negative assessments criticized the film for an overly convoluted plot, uneven pacing, and some stilted dialogue. Several reviewers felt 2:13 showed promise but didn't fully deliver on its intriguing premise.

Over time, 2:13 has developed a small but passionate cult following among fans of psychological thrillers and indie horror. The film's ambiguous ending and layered narrative have inspired debate and analysis on genre fan sites and forums. While far from a mainstream hit, 2:13 has earned respect in some circles for its attempt to create a cerebral, character-driven thriller on a limited budget.

Themes and Analysis

Scholars and critics have identified several key themes explored in 2:13:

Duality and Hidden Identities: The killer's use of flesh masks literalizes the idea of hiding one's true nature. This connects to the protagonist's struggle with his own past and identity.

Trauma and Memory: Flashbacks and dream sequences blur the lines between past and present, reflecting how psychological trauma can linger and resurface.

Obsession and Profiling: The film examines the toll that immersing oneself in the minds of killers can take on criminal profilers and detectives.

Nature vs. Nurture: Questions of whether killers are born or made are woven into the narrative's exploration of psychology and motivation.

The non-linear structure and unreliable narrator elements have drawn comparisons to mind-bending thrillers like Memento, while the serial killer profiler angle evokes classics of the genre like Manhunter and The Silence of the Lambs.

Production Techniques

Despite budget limitations, 2:13 employs several notable production techniques to create its unsettling atmosphere:

Desaturated Color Palette: The film uses a muted, often bluish color scheme to enhance its grim mood.

Handheld Camerawork: Portions of the movie utilize shaky, handheld shots to create a sense of unease and immediacy.

Nonlinear Editing: Flashbacks, flash-forwards, and dream sequences are interwoven to mirror the fractured psyche of the protagonist.

Atmospheric Sound Design: Subtle audio cues and an ominous score contribute to the overall sense of dread and tension.

These stylistic choices help elevate the material beyond typical low-budget thriller fare, giving 2:13 a more polished and atmospheric feel than many of its indie contemporaries.

Cultural Impact and Influence

While 2:13 did not make major waves in mainstream culture, it has had a modest impact within thriller and horror fan communities:

  • The film has screened at several genre film festivals, including Shriekfest and the New York City Horror Film Festival.

  • Online fan communities have engaged in extensive discussions and theories about the movie's plot twists and ambiguous ending.

  • 2:13 is occasionally cited in articles and lists focused on underappreciated or cult thriller films.

  • The movie's exploration of criminal profiling and serial killer psychology has drawn interest from true crime enthusiasts.

Some viewers have drawn connections between 2:13 and later thriller series like True Detective, noting similarities in tone and the exploration of detectives haunted by their cases. While direct influence is unlikely, the film does represent part of a trend toward more psychologically complex and morally ambiguous crime thrillers that gained prominence in the 2000s and 2010s.

Behind-the-Scenes Details

Production of 2:13 faced several challenges typical of independent filmmaking:

  • The movie was shot on a tight 24-day schedule in and around Los Angeles.

  • Many crew members worked for reduced rates due to budget constraints.

  • Post-production took nearly a year as the filmmakers refined the edit and added visual effects.

  • Distribution proved difficult, with the movie ultimately receiving only a limited theatrical release.

In interviews, writer/star Mark Thompson has discussed how personal experiences informed aspects of the script, including his own interest in psychology and criminal profiling. Director Charles Adelman has cited influences ranging from David Fincher's crime thrillers to European art films in crafting the movie's visual style.

Audience and Fandom

The primary audience for 2:13 consists of fans of psychological thrillers, indie horror, and crime dramas. The film has found particular appreciation among viewers who enjoy:

  • Complex, twist-laden narratives

  • Exploration of criminal psychology

  • Atmospheric, mood-driven storytelling

  • Low-budget films that punch above their weight stylistically

While not boasting a large fandom, 2:13 has inspired dedicated viewers to create fan theories, analysis videos, and even some fan art centered on the movie's imagery and themes. The film's ambiguous elements have fueled ongoing debates about character motivations and plot interpretations.

Legacy and Retrospective Views

More than a decade after its release, 2:13 remains a relatively obscure film, but one that has maintained a persistent cult appeal. Retrospective reviews have tended to be somewhat more positive than initial reactions, with some critics reassessing the movie as an ambitious, if flawed, entry in the psychological thriller genre.

The film's legacy rests primarily on its attempt to craft a complex, character-driven thriller on a limited budget. While not entirely successful in all its aims, 2:13 represents the kind of risk-taking, director-driven project that many film fans feel is increasingly rare in mainstream cinema.

For fans of the movie, 2:13 stands as an intriguing example of indie filmmaking ambition – a movie that reaches for lofty thematic and narrative goals even if it doesn't always achieve them. Its continued ability to inspire discussion and analysis speaks to the power of its central ideas and imagery, even as it remains a niche curiosity in the broader landscape of thriller cinema.

While 2:13 may not have achieved widespread fame or acclaim, it has carved out a modest but meaningful place in thriller film history. Its blend of psychological complexity, moody atmosphere, and narrative ambition continues to resonate with a devoted subset of genre film enthusiasts, cementing its status as a true cult curiosity.

 

213TheMovie.com