In this ultra-violent, and in many ways derivative horror yarn, Ethan Hawke excels as a masked and lachrymose serial killer, who wreaks havoc on a Denver suburb in the late 70s. “The Grabber” has a masterful costume: imagine The Child Catcher crossed with Alan Partridge (terrifying!). But it’s Hawke’s wretched eyes that seal the deal.
Back in 2012, Hawke and director Scott Derrickson collaborated on trashy Blumhouse gem, Sinister. Once again, pleasantly jagged edges abound. As adolescent boys go missing, a motherless teen, Finney (Mason Thames) and his psychic kid sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw; fabulous), tiptoe around their traumatised dad (Jeremy Davies), who’s a dead ringer for Charles Manson. Meanwhile, an excitable man in the area (James Ransone) turns out to be a good-hearted coke fiend.
