Since Silence Of The Lambs and Seven, film-makers have been eager to jump on the serial killer bandwagon. Unfortunately, nothing since has been nearly as scary or half as innovative.

The Bone Collector is another in a long list of disappointing thrillers, despite another outstanding performance by Denzel Washington (Glory and Philadelphia), and a solid turn by Angelina Jolie (Pushing Tin).

Washington plays a disabled detective who enlists the help of a cop (played by Jolie) to stop a string of grisly homicides in a big city. As the film progresses their distanced working relationship becomes an incredibly strong bond, as they try to piece together a mystery.

The film was directed with an obvious approach by Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger), who got his start with the intense thriller Dead Calm. The problem is there isn't really anything interesting going on here, and The Bone Collector isn't particularly scary or at all mysterious. In fact, even the so-called surprise ending is uneventful.

The only thing that keeps this film afloat is the conviction of Washington, who brings a dramatic element that this film doesn't really deserve.