I am always just a little wary when films go to real life for their chills and thrills. The idea of telling the story of shooters, snipers, murderers and terrorists feels just a little exploitative, and a little like aggrandizing horrific acts of violence. But very often, it’s the way the story is told, and not the story itself, that makes or breaks a film like that. With the trailer for Blue Caprice, set to come to cinemas and VOD in September, I see a film worth giving a chance.
Blue Caprice tells the story of the relationship between the Beltway snipers John Allen Muhammad (Isaiah Washington) and Lee Boyd Malvo (Tequan Richmond), his young protege. The actual events took place back in 2002, when Muhammad and Malvo spent three weeks shooting people in areas spanning Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia. They used a blue Chevy Caprice as their base, covering a wider and wider area until they were finally caught. They killed ten people and injured three in the initial shootings.
The trailer for Blue Caprice introduces us to the killers, as Muhammad begins training Malvo as a sniper. It’s a chilling look into the calm madness of one man and the apparent indoctrination and brainwashing of a youth. There’s a coldness to the trailer that must mirror the tone of the film. When the ignition turns off on the blue Caprice at the end, I actually got chills.
Blue Caprice premiered at Sundance, where Isaiah Washington garnered a lot of buzz, enough to make us mostly forget his notorious firing from Grey’s Anatomy. From what we see here, it’s no wonder. He looks and sounds positively terrifying.
Blue Caprice will come to theatres September 13, and then VOD September 17. You can watch the trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments.
