The Card Player
Seen it?2004 | 103 min | Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With almost no lasting buzz and middling reviews (22% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and horror fans. If you loved The Naked City, start here.
- The mood
- Scary and gory, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 43 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Policewoman Anna Mari is forced to play a dangerous game with the title serial killer. If she loses, she witnesses the maniac's tortured victims having their throats cut in explicit close-up detail via webcam. She teams up with British cop John Brennan to find out the identity of the murderer.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
22% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
4.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$3 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 7K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
Sunday Safe BetAnother serial killer crime thriller, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
This Gun for Hire Sunday Safe BetAnother crime thriller, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Naked City
Saturday SpecialAnother crime thriller that's easy to miss.
The Mirror Crack'd Weeknight WatchAnother crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Friday the 13th Weeknight WatchAnother serial killer horror film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Dario Argento
- Stefania RoccaAnna Mari
- Liam CunninghamJohn Brennan
- Silvio MuccinoRemo
- Cosimo FuscoBerardelli
- Fiore ArgentoLucia Marini
- Adalberto Maria MerliPolice Commissioner
- Claudio SantamariaCarlo Sturni
- Mia BenedettaFrancesca
- Giovanni VisentinC.I.D. Chief
- Claudio MazzengaMario