Shadowhunter (1993) User Reviews

A Good Mystic Movie Underrated in IMDB

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 21 April 2004]

John Cain (Scott Glenn) is a homicide detective passing through personal problems. His wife has just left him, after nine years of marriage. His chief is aware of the problem, and asks him to bring a serial killer, Nakai Twobear (Benjamin Bratt), arrested in an Indian reservation. While driving back to the city with the prisoner, Cain hits the car and the murderer escapes. Cain joins Ray Whitesinger (Angela Alvarado) and other Indian policemen in the chase of the criminal, who has some sort of psychic powers. Weird things happen with Cain, whose soul was possessed by Twobear. In the end, Cain finds again the meaning of life with Ray. This movie has a good mystic story, well constructed, having action, romance and mysticism. I am a fan of Scott Glenn, but he really has a good performance, as a tormented man in a hard time. The slow pace is the unique problem in this good film. It is not a masterpiece, but also it does not deserve such a low rating. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `A Presa' (`The Catch')

Murderous Indian

[dariuslanghoff · 6/10 · 15 August 2017]

It is a solid supernatural thriller set in Navajo Indian country - an atmospheric movie. Scott Glenn is a gloomy homicide detective named Cain sent to Indian country to apprehend Nakai Twobear, a serial killer who appears to possess supernatural powers.

What looks like a routine transportation job turns into a nightmare when Cain subdues to his prisoner's hypnotic influence. Swerving to avoid an imaginary Indian on the road, he comes round in hospital to discover that Twobear escaped into the wilderness. Wanting to rectify his error, Cain joins a posse that sets off to recapture him. But as the team moves deeper into unknown territory, the hunters become the hunted...

Although the film contains some grisly murder scenes, it mostly focuses on constructing believable characters and creating tense suspense sequences. The romantic subplot about the burgeoning relationship between the detective and fetch-able fellow tracker Angela Alvarado does not thwart the drama.

The desert and mountain scenery is breathtaking. The movie falls into cliché now and then, with a few dream sequences envisaged to jolt the viewer. But, it does not resort to any boring HALLOWEEN-like ending where the murderer keeps coming back to life.

This is a good picture - and I am not speaking in forked tongues.

Desert pursuit of a demon villain .........

[merklekranz · 7/10 · 20 March 2012]

"Shadowhunter" is not perfect, but it is different. Scott Glenn in his usual sleepy performance mode, is the Los Angeles detective assigned to bring back a Navaho killer from the Arizona reservation. When the "Coyote Man" fugitive escapes from Glenn, a desert pursuit commences. Benjamin Bratt is strong as the rarely seen villain. Robert Beltran, the reservation sheriff, is along for the ride, and Angela Alvarado is the love interest female tracker. The scenery is gorgeous, the mystical aspects are interesting, and our hero takes some real punishment. My only objection is that the rather shallow romantic scenes between Glenn and Alvarado, are nothing but a damn distraction. - MERK

Shadowhunter!

[Movie Nuttball · 8/10 · 24 April 2004]

Shadowhunter is pretty good film. I am surprised with a story like this and with stars such as Scott Glenn and Benjamin Bratt that the film seems to be little known and/or very underrated. The film is quite different though it maybe similar like the film that came years after this called The Missing. Glenn is good as the good guy and Bratt is plays his killer character very good! He has a very unique laugh and is unique to begin with! Angela Alvarado played her part very well! It was cool that Tim Sampson,Lee de Broux, and Robert Beltran were in the film. The action is good. Its good and interesting movie. I really like the Native Americans Indians in it. The sky views in the film very neat! The film has some messages in it. Anyway if you like the cast mentioned above and want to see a very different movie watch Shadowhunter!

Better than its rating

[lee-stamm · 7/10 · 2 June 2006]

Scott Glenn does a fine job in his portrayal of a burnt out big city cop who is sent out to the Reservation to bring in a fugitive Navajo Indian for trial. It's supposed to offer him an easy assignment and some time to get himself back together. Instead, it turns out to be a nightmarish trip into the dark world of Navajo witchcraft, with Benjamin Bratt disturbingly menacing as the evil fugitive "Wolf." Viewers who may know a bit about Navajo culture, or who have read the Navajo Tribal Police mysteries by Tony Hillerman will recognize the "Skinwalker" scenario depicted in this film, and will find it easier to follow. In summary, an above average film, with crisp location filming, and good performances all around.

One of Scott Glenn's best film roles.

[hughbra · 8/10 · 20 March 2000]

Scott Glenn plays a big city cop suffering from major burn-out, both personally and professionally. He is sent to an Indian reservation in Arizona to extradite a serial killer with psychic powers. The killer escapes, but is able to remain psychically connected with Glenn, who accompanies the reservation police in their attempt to recapture the fugitive. Sinking into ever deepening depression Glenn is salvaged by a lady tracker, played by Angela Alvarado, and eventually finds redemption and romance with her. This is one of Scott Glenn's finest roles as well as being a tightly wound suspense thriller that will keep the viewer on the edge of their seat.

The Trickster run amok!

[dajones-4 · 8/10 · 12 May 2012]

Good cast. Very well acted. GREAT scenery. And although my knowledge of such things is a bit limited, the Navajo beliefs were portrayed accurately. What's not to like?

Here you have a big city homicide cop whose life is in a shambles and whose wife is leaving him. He wants to quit, but his boss sends him on a "simple" prisoner retrieval.

Turns out the prisoner is a shape-shifter, escapes from the big city cop (Scott Glenn), and the ensuing search for the prisoner (Benjamin Bratt) brings the lead tracker (Angela Alverado) and cop together for an interesting and tense adventure.

Some of the dialog in the ending scenes was a bit cliché and tedious, but it did not detract from the overall enjoyment I had of the movie.

I liked it well enough, I may watch it a 2nd time in the future.

jonesey65244