Probable Cause
Probable Cause
| 20 November 1994 (USA)
Probable Cause Trailers

A series of cop murders plagues the city. The remaining officers on the force are increasingly worried as the deaths increase with no leads. As the department's finest must solve the case before the killer strikes again.

Reviews
Casey Duggan It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny
Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Aspen Orson There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.
Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
blanche-2 "Probable Cause" is a 1994 TV-movie starring Michael Ironside and Kate Vernon, and featuring Craig T. Nelson.Someone is killing police officers, but Gary Yanuck (Ironside) has his own problems. He is accused of sexually harassing another officer (Brooke Adams, in a minuscule role) and has refused to apologize, claiming he did not lay a hand on her. He's under a cloud. He's assigned a new partner, Lynn Reilly (Vernon) who is an odd duck. She occasionally passes out and other times seems out of it. Worried, Yanuck approaches her psychiatrist and, after handing him a phony warrant, learns that Lynn was married before but doesn't remember her marriage. Later we learn that something terrible happened to her that she can't remember. In the meantime, she appears to sleepwalk.When she discovers an important pattern to the murders, Yanuck realizes that she's in danger and may be, in fact, the next victim.This is a slow film and because Kate Vernon plays a psychologically repressed woman and has to walk around pretty zombie-like most of the time, her performance doesn't add much spark to the movie. Michael Ironside as a cop was very good, but I didn't find him particularly likable. So I wasn't very invested in either character.The end was not surprising on one hand and on the other, had a slight twist. Not sure it was worth it.Kate Vernon was around a lot in the '80s, and she's still very active, but I never watched Battlestar Galactica or other shows in which she appeared. She is a better actress than you would believe in this film.Wasn't impressed.
merklekranz "Probable Cause" is a nice showcase for Michael Ironside in a lead performance as the good guy for a change. The plot revolves around a series of cop killings, with suspicion pointing early on to the likely suspect. What is intriguing about the film, is the real mystery is the motive behind all the stabbings. With Ironside slowly uncovering the facts, a bang up conclusion finally reveals the "why" in flashback mode. M. Emmet Walsh makes a brief appearance as a Doctor who happens to be an expert regarding sleepwalking. The acting overall is totally acceptable. Seek this one out if you like your slasher movies to actually have a plot. You will not be disappointed. - MERK
lilszoo2011 Made for TV movie, early, gruesome deaths of police officers (8 in all) and no paranoia of any cops on the force, no Mayor or News reports of a string of deaths of the city's' finest...a sleepwalking female Detective and her horny Detective partner, already accused of sexual harassment by his former partner, and what you have is easy, slide-by movie making with no flavor and no interest for a cultured movie watcher. I watched only for Kate Vernon who literally "sleep walks" thru this whole travesty. Avoid. Craig T. Nelson was probably added to this roster for accountability, he offered his usual best, but Brooke Adams needs to search for a better plastic surgeon.
disdressed12 i found this Canadian production to be a very good murder mystery.it stars Kate Vernon and Michael Ironside.the identity of the murderer is pretty much shown early on in the film so instead of being a who done it kind of mystery,it's more of a why they did it,and to a lesser extent how they did it.(the how is revealed much sooner than the why)this is an interesting twist.the dark tone of the movie is very consistent throughout and doesn't change until the movie fades to black.all in all,it's a very compelling and engrossing murder mystery from the opening frame to the closing credits.for me,Probable Cause is an 8/10