Solace ** (2015, Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish, Colin Farrell) – Classic Movie Review 13,992

Anthony Hopkins) star as a psychic doctor working with an FBI ]agent (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to find a serial killer (Colin Farrell), in the 2015 American mystery thriller film Solace.

Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish and Colin Farrell star in director Afonso Poyart’s 2015 American mystery thriller film Solace. 

Anthony Hopkins) plays a psychic doctor, Dr John Clancy, forced into working with FBI special agent Joe Merriwether (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and criminal psychologist Dr Katherine Cowles (Abbie Cornish) in search of serial killer Charles Ambrose (Colin Farrell).

Merriwether consults former colleague and psychic, Dr John Clancy, living in isolation since the death of his daughter two years before. He can see the future, or possibilities of futures, from just a touch of a person. He sees bad things ahead for Dr Cowles.

With inspiration at a premium, it isn’t really much of a mystery and the scrappily flashy, over-frenzied film-making style isn’t on its side either. But Anthony Hopkins makes something of his opportunity, and the story eventually takes hold and grips the attention. Colin Farrell makes a belated entrance, and doesn’t have much to do, but he is very efficient and professional, and works well with Hopkins. With a lot to do, Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Abbie Cornish are also brisk and professional enough but uninspired and don’t really spark up enough.

Nevertheless, Solace is not to be totally dismissed or completely neglected. There’s is talent on show here, interest and intrigue, and even occasionally the odd touch of class. And, of course, Anthony Hopkins is always watchable, especially in a star role.

The film had a lengthy and troubled production development. Fox 2000 Pictures acquired Sean Bailey and Ted Griffin’s script Solace back in February 1998. Later, New Line Cinema picked up the script to be rewritten as a sequel to the 1995 thriller Se7en, titled Ei8ht, with Morgan Freeman returning as Det William Somerset, who had developed psychic powers, but the idea was scrapped. Eventually, in September 2011, Anthony Hopkins was cast as the star, with final changes made to the screenplay by Peter Morgan, and in May 2012, Brazilian director Afonso Poyart was attached to direct.

Principal photography began in May 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. Solace was screened at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2015, and was eventually released by Lionsgate Premiere on December 16, 2016, to some negative reviews.

Running time: 101 minutes.

The cast are Anthony Hopkins as Dr John Clancy, Colin Farrell as Charles Ambrose, Jeffrey Dean Morgan as FBI Agent Joseph Joe Merriwether, Abbie Cornish as FBI Agent Katherine Cowles, Jordan Woods-Robinson as Jeffrey Oldfield, Marley Shelton as Laura Merriwether, Xander Berkeley as Mr. Ellis, Kenny Johnson as David Raymond, Janine Turner as Elizabeth Clancy, Sharon Lawrence as Mrs Ellis, Jose Pablo Cantillo as Sawyer, Matt Gerald as Sloman, Autumn Dial as Emma Clancy, Joshua Close as Linus Harp, Luisa Moraes as Victoria Raymond.

© Derek Winnert 2026 – Classic Movie Review 13,992

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