In "Postmortem", Sheen plays a burnt out ex homicide detective from San Francisco who, while hiding from his past in Scotland and booze, gets caught up in a serial killer mystery. The flick is okay artistically though at times so ponderously morose and dark as to have the appearance of an old Frankenstein flick. Sheen wears out the one serious expression in his repertoire of nuanced visages; taught lipped and frowning. The flick doesn't quite make it over the bar on major plot issues such as the spent cop dealing with demons; the investigation becomes a bit convoluted; and the ending is predictable, anticlimactic, and could have been better. Etc. Nonetheless, "Postmortem" makes for an okay watch for Sheen fans, serial killers, and the idle with an appetite for macabre stuff.
18 Reviews
A sullen-looking Charlie Sheen cavorts in Scotland....
JimFK10 September 1998
If this isn't a warning against substance abuse...Mr. Sheen, who, last time I checked, was officially a movie star, suddenly appears in an Albert Pyun film! Pyun, my new favorite director, seemed to be realizing he might almost have the opportunity to make a "real" film, and directed on his best behavior, ignoring his usual aesthetic choices of incoherent editing and mumbled dialogue for a relatively straightforward (and blah) style. Basically a dull rip-off of silence of the lambs & manhunter & such, although Sheen certainly isn't bad and possesses a star quality that does compel you to watch. The Scottish locations are different, but the film is slow and doesn't capitalize on certain intriguing plot strands. Sheen needs to take a juicy supporting role in a good film and work his way back up. As for Mr. Pyun, a little less steadicam, please!
"Nothing special" doesn't equal a 7/10
refinedsugar22 May 2023
Director Albert Pyun had a long career in dtv b-movies. Reading his bio you see words like "award winning" and a bunch of flowery praise being heaped upon the man. All the "big names" he worked with. The reality is most of the movies he did are cheap & quite bad, but for years the consensus was you had to watch 'Mean Guns' or 'Postmortem' to see the best from him. So here I am.
I guess when the bar is set so low ... when your previous efforts have been so poor there's nowhere to go but up. This is a fairly average hunt for a serial killer flick. The only thing it does to distinguish itself from its genre peers is being set in Scotland. Oh and a throwback to Charlie Sheen before his problems blew up in a very public manner playing a guy who's a wreck. Hindsight being 20/20 and such.
McGregor (Sheen) is a divorced American ex-cop, profiler and author laying low in Scotland after seeing too much death. He soaks his days away in booze, advil, cigarettes and takeout food. He's been living there six months and he's estranged from his son. When a dead body turns up outside his house he goes from suspect to helping the local police as the bodies continue to pile up.
There's nothing wrong with 'Postmortem' on a deep level, but it's also lacking in real suspense or thrills. Going through the usual story motions in low budget fashion. Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale) and Pyun regular Michael Halsey play police Inspectors.
I guess when the bar is set so low ... when your previous efforts have been so poor there's nowhere to go but up. This is a fairly average hunt for a serial killer flick. The only thing it does to distinguish itself from its genre peers is being set in Scotland. Oh and a throwback to Charlie Sheen before his problems blew up in a very public manner playing a guy who's a wreck. Hindsight being 20/20 and such.
McGregor (Sheen) is a divorced American ex-cop, profiler and author laying low in Scotland after seeing too much death. He soaks his days away in booze, advil, cigarettes and takeout food. He's been living there six months and he's estranged from his son. When a dead body turns up outside his house he goes from suspect to helping the local police as the bodies continue to pile up.
There's nothing wrong with 'Postmortem' on a deep level, but it's also lacking in real suspense or thrills. Going through the usual story motions in low budget fashion. Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale) and Pyun regular Michael Halsey play police Inspectors.
bit slow,bit confused but good entertaining thriller!
monsta5 November 1998
Having watched numerous Charlie Sheen movies, and seen more or less the same type of performances from him in each one, I was not expecting this. Charlie Sheen manages to pull off quite a watchable performance as James Magregor, a weary but hardened cop, who goes to Glasgow for some light relief from his lifestyle...?....The film itself was quite slow, but the choice of location and the addition of a few smaller actors who are barely recognisable from other films, made the look of the film quite arthouse and cult-like compared with most of Sheen's other film work. There is a lot of use of the steady-cam, which at times becomes an annoyance,but it doesn't detract from the film The director really seems to capture the tension and fear in the film, and for a film that was shot entirely in twelve days with a mostly unknown cast, that aint bad. Overall, good thriller with some great support from the excellently cast unknowns! A must see for Sheen fans!
Sluggish thriller.
gridoon1 February 2003
Albert Pyun's directing seems to be improving with age. This is a perfectly respectable thriller, a movie that you would hesitate to call "inept" in any way - unless of course you're a personal enemy of Pyun's. However, it's also a bit too long and sluggish, and not as exciting as it should be. It jumps to life only occasionally (mainly in the chase scenes). Charlie Sheen is not very convincing as a boozing, worn-out, depressed yet brilliant writer/ex-detective; he's both too young and too clean-cut for such a role. (*1/2)
"PostBoredom" is a more accurate name.
tarbosh2200013 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
James McGregor (Charles Sheen) is a former San Francisco cop who is now a celebrity serial killer profiler. He goes to Scotland to discover his Scottish roots and also to try to get away from his demons, which seem to be alcoholism and...well...alcoholism. When a serial killer begins killing the women of Glasgow, at first McGregor is a suspect but then he begins working with the authorities to try to apprehend the evildoer before he strikes again. Will Charles use all his serial killer knowledge to prevent another killing? Albert Pyun once again proves - as if further proof was needed - that he's a talentless human being with this dour drama that struggles to hold the viewers' interest. Sure, it might be a mild improvement on earlier Pyun disasters, but that's not saying much. The fact that it's a Charles outing should be another red flag. Of course, once we see him smoking, drinking and acting crazy, we thought Postmortem might be a documentary about Sheen's life, but that turned out to be a false alarm.
This is a very standard "chasing a serial killer" movie, and this plot has been done countless times, and it was perfected by TV shows like Criminal Minds. Pyun brings nothing new to the table. The Scottish locations are somewhat interesting, and the movie is certainly buoyed somewhat by them and the Scottish actors. But Sheen seems miscast as someone named "McGregor". It seems to be something of a misuse of Sheen.
Sheen was hitting the skids, Pyun is usually on the skids, and the whole thing is kind of a mess. Postmortem has zero sense of pacing and thus "PostBoredom" is a more accurate name.
For more action insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
This is a very standard "chasing a serial killer" movie, and this plot has been done countless times, and it was perfected by TV shows like Criminal Minds. Pyun brings nothing new to the table. The Scottish locations are somewhat interesting, and the movie is certainly buoyed somewhat by them and the Scottish actors. But Sheen seems miscast as someone named "McGregor". It seems to be something of a misuse of Sheen.
Sheen was hitting the skids, Pyun is usually on the skids, and the whole thing is kind of a mess. Postmortem has zero sense of pacing and thus "PostBoredom" is a more accurate name.
For more action insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
The longest 105 minutes of my life...
ajturner7931 July 2008
As a Scot, I was pleased to see various locations in and around Glasgow as the setting for this movie. However, despite the setting, I am certain that this shall remain one of the worst examples of film-making that I will ever have to endure.
The worst thing about this truly atrocious movie is surprisingly not the woeful acting performances, with an appalling Charlie Sheen at the front of the line; nor indeed is it the very poorly written script. Both aspects are beaten to that title by Charlie Sheen's desperate attempts to be regarded as a serious actor by simply going under the name of Charles Sheen.
Next time, Mr. Sheen would be better to focus on giving a performance with at least some depth and emotion which the audience could connect with. Many a poorly scripted film is saved by one or two stand out performances. Sadly, only Glasgow delivered on this one, with Mr. Sheen's performance only adding to the endless list of flaws attached to this movie.
Overall, Postmortem is struggling to score 1 out of 10.
The worst thing about this truly atrocious movie is surprisingly not the woeful acting performances, with an appalling Charlie Sheen at the front of the line; nor indeed is it the very poorly written script. Both aspects are beaten to that title by Charlie Sheen's desperate attempts to be regarded as a serious actor by simply going under the name of Charles Sheen.
Next time, Mr. Sheen would be better to focus on giving a performance with at least some depth and emotion which the audience could connect with. Many a poorly scripted film is saved by one or two stand out performances. Sadly, only Glasgow delivered on this one, with Mr. Sheen's performance only adding to the endless list of flaws attached to this movie.
Overall, Postmortem is struggling to score 1 out of 10.
Entertaining!
Mikew300121 January 2002
If you don't expect too much from a serial killer thriller, this movie is nice entertainment. Directed by Albert Pyun, better known for trashy made science fiction/action/martial arts movies, it introduces a disillusioned and alcohol-addicted U.S. cop (played by ex-star Charlie Sheen) to a series of brutal girl murders in the Scottish countryside. The film is nothing special, just a cop losing his mind, being suspected of being the murderer, and finally tracking down the real killer and saving the last victim from its fate. The setting is outstanding, with the dark architecture of Scottish cities and the sinister atmosphere of Hammer-Horror-like countryside. Sit back and be thrilled for 105 minutes of nice serial killer entertainment!
Starling in Scotland?
Nahret4 April 2002
To be honest, the irritating camera angles and zooms and the misplaced colours (scenes full of red, blue or other hues that certainly meant something to the director but the purposes of which were certainly lost on me) diverted my attention so far away from the story as to make a clear opinion impossible. On the other hand, if the story had been suspenseful or gripping in any way, I think I'd have noticed. Suffice it to say, then, that this is one of many movies about a serial killer, the police chasing him "before he kills his next victim", an outside cop who "really doesn't want to be involved but is our only hope", one dead cop who had a family, a psychologically wrecked serial killer - you may blame either of his parents - a mental sibling of his, etc. It's all unconvincing, by-the-dozen kind of stuff. In the end, the most surprising aspect of it all might be the fact that it takes place in Glasgow. Wow.
Signs of life
Mark Harrison15 July 2000
This was a nice try at doing something different from the typical American serial killer flick but unfortunately it ended up being only the setting that changed. Its a pity that in true Hollywood tradition an American had to show the Scottish police how to solve the murder (yawn). Not only that but the makers of this drama had Scottish actors speaking in American idioms. This might go down well in the mid west but anyone from Scotland will probably squirm a few times.
The acting is not too bad, but Sheen mumbles his lines and Ivana Milicevic's Scottish accent sometimes drifts into the mid Atlantic. Having said all that though I certainly enjoyed the film and was happy that in choice of actors and setting there had at least been an attempt to move away from the formula serial killer movie.
The acting is not too bad, but Sheen mumbles his lines and Ivana Milicevic's Scottish accent sometimes drifts into the mid Atlantic. Having said all that though I certainly enjoyed the film and was happy that in choice of actors and setting there had at least been an attempt to move away from the formula serial killer movie.
This familiar thriller has good atmosphere and fine direction.
hu6755 February 2007
James McGregor (Charlie Sheen), An Ex-FBI profiler turned novelist returns to his home land of Scotland for piece and quiet. But McGregor has a drinking problem and having trouble forgetting his last disturbing case from his past. There's an mysterious murderer in Scotland, which this killer writes obituaries before he murders his victim. Which this killer sends his obituary to McGregor. At first, McGregor thinks it's a joke until the dead body was found in his backyard. Now McGregor is forced to investigate the crime with the help of two inspectors (Michael Halsey and Ivana Milicevic). McGregor has to do anything to stop the killer before he receives another obituary.
Directed by Albert Pyun (Mean Guns, Radioactive Dreams, The Sword and the Socerer) made an reasonable if familiar thriller. Pyun is been responsible for making some decent B-Movies and mostly made very awful ones. "Postmortem" is actually his best work as a director. He gives Sheen an moody performance in this. This was only released in Europe and never played in the U.S., Which it was a Direct to Video here. This picture does take time to start, which the movie is extremely slow at first. But once you past the first twenty minutes, you find yourself enjoying this thriller. Clairmont-Scope. (*** 1/2 out of *****).
Directed by Albert Pyun (Mean Guns, Radioactive Dreams, The Sword and the Socerer) made an reasonable if familiar thriller. Pyun is been responsible for making some decent B-Movies and mostly made very awful ones. "Postmortem" is actually his best work as a director. He gives Sheen an moody performance in this. This was only released in Europe and never played in the U.S., Which it was a Direct to Video here. This picture does take time to start, which the movie is extremely slow at first. But once you past the first twenty minutes, you find yourself enjoying this thriller. Clairmont-Scope. (*** 1/2 out of *****).
Murder in Scotland.
michaelRokeefe14 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
A made-for-TV movie when Charlie Sheen was Charles,who plays Jack McGregor, a self-retired California detective with expertise in profiling serial killers. Burnt out and dealing with his demons, McCregor drinks his life away in a remote Scotland home. Jack has gained some celebrity status from writing mystery novels. A deranged killer begins sending him obits of his most recent kidnap victim before he kills her. McGregor is reluctantly forced into helping the local authorities track down the serial killer before the body count increases. Sheen actually shows some of his non-comedic talent. Others in the cast: Michael Halsey, Ivana Milicevic, Dave Anderson, Stephen McCole and Zuleika Shaw.
Charlie Sheen: Down and out in Glasgow
filmnut129 August 2011
Charlie Sheen's career has had many highs and lows and back in the late 90s he found himself out of favour with Hollywood's elite. Before resurrecting his career on television he was only able to exploit his star power in direct-to-video releases. In an effort to be taken more seriously, Sheen tried formalising his name for films such as Postmortem. Nobody noticed. Directed by Albert Pyun, the serial killer thriller was arguably a career low. Sheen plays a borderline alcoholic ex-cop drawn back into the field of serial killer profiling when a girl is found dead. Although this sounds fairly standard, the film's location is unique. Postmortem was made in Scotland! The sight of Charlie Sheen wandering around bars in Glasgow is pretty surreal. Featuring a supporting cast of local talent and various unknowns, what Postmortem lacks in Hollywood production qualities (it's cheaper looking than an episode of Taggart) it at least makes up for in curiosity value.
Better than you might think
davlaw-2063817 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I was surprised with this movie. It is much better than I thought it would be. Charlie Sheen's acting track record isn't great and he starts off quite bad (trying to imitate his dad in Apocalypse Now, sort of?), but he starts to act appropriate to the role after about twenty minutes. The film has the right pace for the genre and it isn't boring as one reviewer has written. Worth your time.
Above average Pyun flick
CQKRIS25 June 2001
Well at last Albert Pyun has delivered a decent film. Although this one isn't the best film of all time, it is a marked improvement on his other works like 'Crazy Six' and 'Mean Guns' as well as the dire 'Omega Doom'. Charlie Sheen certainly helps the cause which cant be said for the other actors in the cast. Why have it in Scotland? Well I dont know, maybe its because its cheaper to make or maybe because Sheen likes the Scottish Pubs.
Poor sound, poor lighting
grinna13 February 1999
A very non-convincing performance by Sheen. Does he think that mumbling his lines will have audience approval - in the worn-out manner of the drawling James Dean? I watched this video and constantly had to rewind and replay and listen again to what Sheen was saying; quite comical really when you consider that the other actors had broad Scottish accents. Poor sound and poor lighting also contributed to a frustrating movie. 4 out of 10. Strong performance from the Scottish Police inspector.
Very embarrassed by this film!
Suxidoll4 May 2001
I sat and watched this film a few nights ago with my family; every time the female police officer spoke, we couldn't stop laughing - her accent was terrible! This film made us really embarrassed to BE Scottish, the fact that we were represented like this; I think we're capable of solving murder mysteries without the help of Charlie Sheen (and his very poor performance). The dialogue is doctored for an American audience and it ruins any effect for the audience. To quote my dad - "Its just as bad as 'Plan 9 from Outer Space', except its not even funny".
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