--- product_id: 20490741 title: "The Killing Gene" brand: "barbara adairstellan skarsgårdtom shankland" price: "£20.12" currency: GBP in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20490741-the-killing-gene store_origin: GB region: Great Britain --- # The Killing Gene **Brand:** barbara adairstellan skarsgårdtom shankland **Price:** £20.12 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Killing Gene by barbara adairstellan skarsgårdtom shankland - **How much does it cost?** £20.12 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20490741-the-killing-gene) ## Best For - barbara adairstellan skarsgårdtom shankland enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted barbara adairstellan skarsgårdtom shankland brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Product Description How far would you go to save the one you love? Stellan Skarsgard (Exorcist: The Beginning) stars as Eddie Argo, a veteran cop investigating a string of bizarre serial murders. In each case, the victims were forced to make the unconscionable decision to save themselves or the life of a loved one. Now Eddie and his rookie partner (Melissa George, Alias) must stop the carnage before the killer strikes too close to home. Featuring Selma Blair (Hellboy) in a terrifying performance, the Killing Gene is a "thought-provoking and brutal horror-thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of the seat until the gripping conclusion". .com A murderer with a bizarre formula and a thirst for revenge is loose in The Killing Gene, a trendy-looking thriller that has a few genuine surprises up its sleeve. In a dark, dank metropolis (shot in Belfast), hard-bitten veteran cop Stellan Skarsgard is paired with a svelte new partner (Melissa George) straight out of a hand-lotion ad. Their by-the-numbers bickering needs to end soon, because the killer is carving weird symbols in the flesh of the victims, and a Seven-like system is behind it all. There's no denying the oppressive atmosphere here, although by contrast Seven included recognizable signs of human life, such as humor and sadness, which this film noticeably lacks. More damagingly to the cop-movie point, the two leads are miscast, with George too deft for her one-note role and the able Skarsgard trying too hard to fit into the mold of the gruff American detective who gargles with rocks. He's an excellent actor, but the accent seems to have distracted him from concentrating on the performance. Selma Blair turns in an interesting turn as a woman connected with a former case, but her dark madness alone isn't enough to lift the film above its disagreeable level. --Robert Horton ## Images ![The Killing Gene - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51M7dC8HQ0L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Nice *by S***. on Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024* Good movie ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars Payback --and why to love your grandma *by M***O on Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2011* I saw this film for the second time about two years ago. The first viewing blew my mind. While there is some heavy-handedness in the film, in general this borders on a great thriller. It is one of the best such films I've seen.It has great suspense which builds and builds until the murderer, who becomes known, reveals the motive for a horrific payback for the gang's crimes.The premise of the story is intriguing. Members of a violent (and markedly amoral) gang are being murdered, and the murderer has etched WdeltaZ into the bodies. The "formula" refers to a theory of imprinted human behavior which causes man to exhibit "abnormal" behaviors in intraspecies; these behaviors are humiliation, violence and killing. (See Konrad Lorenz' On Aggression, a layman's book based on his scientific, Nobel-prize winning work. I think this has got to be one of the sources the screenwriter used from his Psychology 101 course!) In the beginning of the film, in an animal experimentation lab, we are given this premise of innate aggression among primates.Two detectives are assigned to the gang deaths, one a seasoned veteran and the other a rookie. The lead detective is haunted by a case of rape and murder which he failed to solve. This failure prompts his intense desire to solve the current crimes. Though Skarsgaard and George are competent in their detective roles, I found the other characters, especially Pierre ( the always remarkable Tom Hardy), more compelling. Selma Blair's is the single truly outstanding performance. SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!In 1961, a study on human behavior known as "The Milgram Experiment" was conducted. It created a firestorm of controversy. The screenwriter was no doubt familiar with this widely publicized experiment, too. The experiment involved two randomly selected people who were told they would be paid for playing roles of teacher and student. The teacher would ask questions, and if the student answered the question incorrectly, the teacher would apply electrical shocks from 15 volts to 450 volts. The administrator and the learner were conductors of the experiment -- only the "teacher" had no knowledge of the real purpose of the study. The "teacher" could not see the "learner," only the electric shock generator. The objective of the experiment was to determine the extent of pain one person would inflict upon another. The researchers wanted to know how long someone would continue to give shocks to another person if they were told to do so even if the shock would seriously hurt him [Stanley Milgram]. As the voltage increased from 15 to 450 volts, 65 percent of the "teachers" applied full voltage three times. (The researchers had expected between 1 to 2 per cent of the "teachers" to inflict the highest pain.) The "learner" played an audio tape of increasingly painful outbursts until the last three charges when the response was silence. Whenever the "teacher" wanted to stop, the administrator said he could not stop,,with increasing pressure of mild statement to stern command, he was ordered to continue to increase the shocks until the study ended. That 65 per cent of the "teachers" obeyed the administrator was an outcome totally unexpected by the administrators.Now why am I going into all this psychological stuff? Because it has everything to do with the storyline especially in the resolution of the conflict. What causes the behavior of the gang members to inflict extreme violence upon others? Is it in our nature -- or in our nurture? What causes the behavior of the victim who delivers the payback for their crimes? Revenge in a hideously cruel punishment -- or in the imitation of the violence inflicted upon the victims? The film provokes some heavy thought, that's for sure.I wrote this review not so much to comment on the story, which I think has been pretty much covered by others here, but to write about the underpinnings of the screenplay. I don't know if the screenwriter is familiar with the behavioral theories above, but I think he must be. I saw clear similarities between the facts and fiction of aggression in human behavior. The conclusion of the film is brutally graphic. I remember thinking, omg, how can one person do that to another?! Isn't the payback a bit of overkill? But, looking at the provocation for the revenge, the same question came to mind. At some points, I felt my stomach tighten. It is not just the physical "Q&A" in the final scenes that appalls us but the terrible consequences meted out for "wrong answers." Rather than endure more physical pain, Pierre, for example, gives up the one person who loves him and whom he loves: his grandmother. What is the film saying when it leaves us feeling that certain punishments, no matter how cruel, are perfectly justified? Brrrrrr. Goosebumps!I really like this movie. I have it in my collection, and after writing this "review," I think I'll watch it again tomorrow!PS: I ought to state that the Milgram Experiment's original purpose was to examine the motivation for war crimes committed by the Nazis during WWII, specifically, the explanation that the torturers were "only following orders." ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Be warned, but wow. Well done. *by S***O on Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024* I just discovered this movie, and it does not flinch. It made me feel the same way that Se7en made me feel after walking out if the theater the first time I saw it. I was very "pleasantly" surprised at the intense nature, though the subject material is extremely disturbing. Great movie, definitely not for the faint of heart. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20490741-the-killing-gene](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/20490741-the-killing-gene) --- *Product available on Desertcart Great Britain* *Store origin: GB* *Last updated: 2026-05-01*