Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Jacob Kanon
Overview
After suffering a personal tragedy, and desperate for justice, Jacob Kanon, a veteran New York City police detective, embarks on the search for a twisted killer who is leaving a bloody trail of elaborate murders across Europe.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Postcard Killings: A Detective Story That Forgets to Breathe
I’ve always had a soft spot for detective stories that cross borders—those narratives where the chase itself becomes a kind of cultural translation, where the rules of one country don’t quite apply in another. The Postcard Killings tries to tap into that tradition, sending a grieving New York detective, Jacob Kanon (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), across Europe to hunt a serial killer who stages victims like living art. It’s a premise that should crackle with tension, a collision of American grit and European procedural cool. Instead, it feels like a film that’s been assembled from a kit, each piece clicking into place without ever coming alive.
Danis Tanović, the Bosnian director who won an Oscar for No Man’s Land, is no stranger to stories about fractured landscapes and moral ambiguity. But here, he’s working in a register that feels foreign to him—not just the English language, but the slick, commercial thriller space. The film’s biggest problem isn’t its premise; it’s that it never trusts its own material.
The script (credited to five different writers, which might explain the whiplash in tone) treats every beat like it’s a checkbox: the grieving father, the cryptic postcards, the art-world red herrings. Even the killer’s signature—posing victims like famous paintings—feels less like a chilling calling card and more like a gimmick the film forgets to explore. By the time the twist arrives (and it does, around the 45-minute mark), it’s so telegraphed that I found myself counting the minutes until the next postcard arrived, not out of suspense, but out of habit.
The film’s visuals are its most consistent element, at least. The European locations—Stockholm, London, a particularly eerie shot of a fog-choked canal—are photographed with a moody, almost painterly quality. (There’s a moment where Kanon walks through a museum, the camera lingering on the brushstrokes of a Caravaggio, that briefly suggests the film might lean into its own art-world macabre.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.1/10
"A middling thriller with a promising premise but underwhelming execution, saved only by its lead performances."
Viewers appreciate the efforts of Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Famke Janssen, whose performances provide some depth to an otherwise formulaic crime thriller. However, the story feels predictable and lacks the tension or originality needed to stand out in the genre. latestnetflix.com's read is that the film’s pacing and thin character development outside the leads leave many underwhelmed.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Famke Janssen deliver compelling performances that elevate the material.
- Intriguing premise The concept of a serial killer leaving postcards as clues offers a fresh twist on crime thrillers.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows well-worn thriller tropes, making it easy to guess the outcome early.
- Weak supporting cast Characters outside the leads feel underdeveloped and fail to leave a lasting impression.
- Lackluster pacing The film struggles to maintain tension, with slow stretches that dull its impact.
Recommended for
Fans of crime thrillers Jeffrey Dean Morgan admirers Casual mystery viewers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of The Postcard Killings: A European Thriller with Star Power
The Postcard Killings (2020) arrived with a bang—trailers promised a gritty, transcontinental cat-and-mouse game between a grieving detective and a serial killer leaving postcards as his calling card. Directed by Bosnian filmmaker Danis Tanović (No Man’s Land), the movie stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) and Famke Janssen (X-Men) in a story that spans London, Stockholm, and beyond. latestnetflix.com's take is that but what went into making this thriller, and why did it fly under the radar for some audiences?
A Director’s Shift: From War Zones to Crime Thrillers
Danis Tanović is no stranger to intense storytelling. Born in Zenica and raised in Sarajevo, his early work, including the Oscar-winning No Man’s Land (2001), focused on the brutality of war 
. The Postcard Killings marked a pivot to crime thrillers, though the film’s dark tone and themes of loss still carry echoes of his earlier, more somber projects.
The shift wasn’t seamless. While Tanović’s direction brought a European sensibility to the procedural, some critics noted the film’s uneven pacing—a common pitfall for thrillers juggling multiple locations and red herrings . Still, his ability to balance atmospheric tension with character-driven drama kept the project from veering into generic territory.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Famke Janssen: A Detective Duo with Chemistry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO4g3aYZpOc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk988xBkgmQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QRHFazHpuc
Morgan and Janssen anchor the film as Jacob and Danielle Kanon, a pair of detectives hunting a killer who targets young couples across Europe. Their on-screen partnership was a selling point in trailers, with Morgan’s grizzled intensity contrasting Janssen’s cooler, methodical approach .
Off-screen, the two actors have a history—both appeared in The Resident (though not as a duo), and their familiarity may have smoothed the film’s emotional beats. Janssen, in particular, has a knack for playing sharp, no-nonsense professionals, while Morgan’s everyman charm grounds the film’s darker moments.
A Killer’s Calling Card: The Postcard Hook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DO1zLt1gG8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsWeNZ-DP7o
The film’s central gimmick—a serial killer sending postcards to taunt detectives—was a standout in marketing. Trailers teased the eerie, almost poetic nature of the murders, with each postcard featuring a different European landmark . The concept drew comparisons to Se7en and The Following, though The Postcard Killings leaned harder into its international setting.
Rumors (unconfirmed) suggest the postcard motif was inspired by real-life serial killer communications, though the film’s script doesn’t delve into specifics. The killer’s identity and motives remain a mystery until the final act, a choice that divided audiences—some praised the twist, while others found it underwhelming .
Mixed Reception and a Quiet Release
Despite its star power and intriguing premise, The Postcard Killings didn’t set the box office ablaze. Released in March 2020, it faced stiff competition from other thrillers and the early days of the pandemic, which disrupted theatrical runs. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score reflects its divisive nature, with a middling 5.1/10 rating from critics and audiences alike .
That said, the movie found a second life on streaming platforms like Netflix, where its globe-trotting plot and Morgan’s leading-man appeal attracted binge-watchers . For fans of slow-burn crime dramas, it’s a solid, if flawed, entry in the genre.
The Verdict: A Thriller Worth a Postcard
The Postcard Killings may not be a classic, but it’s a competent, atmospheric thriller with a standout premise. Tanović’s direction keeps the tension simmering, while Morgan and Janssen deliver performances that elevate the material. If you’re in the mood for a detective story with a European twist, it’s worth a watch—just don’t expect a masterpiece.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.