Hangman

Two veterans of the city’s police force, tough as nails and weary of routine, join forces to stop a killer who treats murder like a game. Al Pacino plays Detective Archer, a veteran investigator, while Karl Urban is Detective Ruiney, a relentless profiler with a talent for reading a killer’s mindset. They are joined by a skilled criminologist who helps translate the killer’s riddle like clues into concrete leads. The case centers on a string of murders modeled after the children’s game Hangman, with taunting notes and drawn-out reveals designed to push the detectives to their limits. The chase tests their friendship and their faith in procedure. A web of suspects emerges through late-night stakeouts, cryptic voice mails, and a chillingly meticulous killer who keeps score.

Directed by Johnny Martin, Hangman originated as an original screenplay by Charles Huttinger and Michael Caissie and was released in 2017. The production leans on procedural banter and atmospheric set pieces, and the ensemble performance leans heavily on Pacino, Urban, Snow, Shahi, and Joe Anderson.

Worldwide box office tallies place Hangman at about 104,503, reflecting a very limited theatrical run and a niche audience for its grim serial killer premise. The numbers underscore how the film was positioned mostly for home viewing.

Its cultural footprint is modest, with Pacino still drawing attention in the press and fans recalling his late career thriller appearances. The movie has small reverberations in genre conversations and streaming recommendations, and a few viewers discuss its rapid-fire dialogue and grim mood.

Reviews were mixed, praising Pacino's presence but noting pacing and predictability. The film probes obsession and the tension between intuition and procedure as investigators decipher a killer who uses a child's game as a blueprint, turning ritual into menace, and it leaves you considering the cost of chasing a killer who treats life as a game.