Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- brooding
- gritty
- violent
- 90s action marathon
- martial arts movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a slow-moving, routine, humorless action thriller with weak suspense and uninspired performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jack Cole's new age beliefs and unconventional methods contrast with Jim Campbell's grounded Los Angeles police work.
The serial killer's murder of Jack's ex-wife and the discovery of Jack's fingerprints on her body intensify the case.
Jack's military mentor Smith is secretly allied with crime boss Frank Deverell while Jack investigates the murders.
The Los Angeles murder investigation and repeated martial-arts confrontations create a rough-edged city-crime visual identity.
Films like The Glimmer Man, and why
Lethal Weapon
shared buddy cop structure, serial killer investigation, martial arts action, and mismatched-partner banter
The Last Boy Scout
shared 1990s urban action-thriller style, cop partnership, crime investigation, and violent confrontations
Marked for Death
shared martial arts-driven action, stoic protagonist, police corruption, and criminal conspiracy
Seven
shared serial killer investigation, buddy cop dynamics, and grim urban crime atmosphere
Movie Details
- Director
- John Gray
- Release Date
- 1996-10-04
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (449)
Cast
- Steven Seagal
- Keenen Ivory Wayans
- Bob Gunton
- Brian Cox
- John M. Jackson
- Michelle Johnson
- Stephen Tobolowsky
- Peter Jason
- Ryan Cutrona
- Richard Gant
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Glimmer Man about?
- A spiritually unconventional New York detective confronts a crucifixion-murdering serial killer while a Los Angeles partnership exposes buried corruption.
- What is The Glimmer Man like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Glimmer Man as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Glimmer Man violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Glimmer Man as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Glimmer Man?
- Critics broadly found the film a slow-moving, routine, humorless action thriller with weak suspense and uninspired performances.
- Which films are like The Glimmer Man?
- Films with a similar feel include Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, Marked for Death, and Seven.
- How long is The Glimmer Man?
- The Glimmer Man runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Glimmer Man?
- In United States, The Glimmer Man is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
