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Detective

Detective

TV movie2005171 minPG-13Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films
Director
David S. Cass Sr.
Starring
Tom Berenger, Annabeth Gish, Rick Gomez, Frank Whaley

Detective Sergeant Malcolm Ainslie, a Catholic priest turned distinguished investigator for the police, has agreed to hear the confession of a convicted serial killer sentenced to death in a just a matter of hours. What he promises to reveal to Ainslie is the truth behind the crimes and the reason he confessed to the one crime Ainslie doesn't even believe he committed. What unfolds between the two men is a serpentine trail into both men's pasts based on the bestseller from master storyteller Arthur Hailey.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Detective?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Detective streaming on Pluto TV (free), Prime Video, Shout! TV via Prime Video and Tubi (free).

Your rating, lists and review

Reception

Is Detective worth watching?

Detective's Midcredits score is the 28th percentile of all films, from 753 ratings across 3 sources. 35% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

28th percentile

Better received than 28% of films

27th percentile among Crime27th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)28th
Approval (how many liked it)30th

55 /100

28th percentile of all films

26th percentile among Crime28th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.8 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

35% liked it

30th percentile of all films

30th percentile among Crime28th percentile among 2000s
35% rated it 7–1065% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

52nd percentile

753 ratings across platforms

43rd percentile among Crime44th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 36% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • Tom Berenger's strong performance as conflicted ex-priest detective
  • faithful adaptation of Arthur Hailey's novel
  • thoughtful story beyond just the murder mystery

Detractors panned

  • bloated runtime with pointless padding
  • terrible sound mixing with intrusive background music
  • weak script with cliché dialogue and no suspense

What stands out

ActingDivisive55

Tom Berenger praised as strong lead but divisive; supporting cast underused or miscast

Plot and storyDivisive40

serial killer story too predictable, flashbacks removed

CharactersDivisive35

ex-priest gimmick feels forced, no depth to personal arcs

Originality30

cookie-cutter crime show stretched into miniseries

TensionDivisive30

no suspense due to TV limitations and pacing

Dialogue25

cliché conversations that don't advance plot

Sound and music20

intrusive music drowns out dialogue, misused

PacingDivisive15

painfully slow padded runtime

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 8 points apart

Watch experience

What is Detective like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Food for thought: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something to think about afterwards.

It takes its time and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Patience.

What it feels like

Food for thought.

Moods
TenseContemplative
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its dark crime drama and personal conflict straight, with an earnest, unironic tone.
The rideThe confession and investigation maintain a tense, brooding atmosphere, with heavier personal revelations toward the climax.
StructureThe plot appears to unfold in a conventional linear sequence, following the detective's investigation and the confession dialogue, with possible flashbacks to the past.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

The answer rests on this: Thought-provokingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves one reflecting on the complicated truths behind the crimes and the detective's personal struggles, with a mix of moral weight and personal resolution.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Mystery
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% (this title) · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

7% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story is driven by a convicted serial killer's last-minute confession, which promises to reveal the truth behind his crimes and why he confessed to a murder he may not have committed. The central question is what really happened, fitting the mystery archetype with a long procedural investigation.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% (this title) · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% (this title) · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 6% of filmsTruth · 4% of filmsGuilt · 3% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the detective's own moral reckoning and the killer's search for absolution, intertwined with uncovering hidden truths.
StanceThe film questions whether redemption is possible and what truth means for both men, focusing on their personal moral struggles rather than societal impact.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Jim Dooley
SettingLos Angeles police department and investigation scenes
MusicReviews note the music is sometimes obtrusive and misjudged, overwhelming dialogue.

Content guide

Is Detective okay for kids?

PG-13

Detective is rated PG-13.

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Detective have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Detective?

Cast

Tom Berenger
as Sgt. Malcolm Ainslie
Annabeth Gish
as Cynthia Ernst
Rick Gomez
as Det. Rodriguez
Frank Whaley
as Brewmaster
Renee Rizzo
as Det..Parici
Cybill Shepherd
as Karen Ainslie
J. Karen Thomas
as Ruby Bowe
Wanda De Jesus
as Sanchez
Sean O'Bryan
as Elroy Doil
David Atkinson
as James 'Little Jesus' Calhoun

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Detective?

Movies like Detective include Felony (2013), The River Murders (2011) and The Ritual Killer (2023). Of the 12 closest matches, all are investigation stories, and most are hero-versus-nemesis stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its story type: police procedural. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Detective?

1K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: police procedural. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.