I held out almost little hope for Michael W. Watkins crime thriller slasher film about a Greek mythology obsessed serial killer who has a penchant for gathering and murdering his victims on the basis of fulfilling some need within him to manifest some Greek legend, but "Circle" gradually proved me wrong as it progressed. While it's not a masterpiece by any definition, it definitely is a solid horror film with some roots in the formula cop sub-genre in which we're following two mismatched hard boiled cops on the track of the vicious Bennett, a mastermind and genius psychopath who manages to break free from his asylum after ritualistically killing off a group therapy session he was engaging in. What is shifty and suspicious is that he was in a high security facility and walked out and now the man who brought him to justice originally is back on and seeking him out aggressively. Noted character actor Peter Onorati saves what could have been a boring character and turns him in to a truly entertaining hero who is your typical cop with nothing to lose and finds a motivation to catch Bennett once again and figure out how he masterminded an escape in an inescapable asylum.

And Bennett is on the way there to finish his business in the process. The film is amped up considerably with rising tension and suspense as it goes on as character Richard and Kathy struggle to find out where he's headed all the while Erin Reese gives a very strong performance as criminology student Chloe who is embroiled in a relationship with a fellow student and faced with fighting off Bennett once she discovers he's headed home. There's also some strong supporting performances from Peter DeLuise and the always gorgeous America Olivo. Watkins directs with a luster and zeal that makes "Circle" a respectable little crime thriller that also works as a slasher film as Bennett's carnage reaches in to his home as he picks off the students preparing for his final ritual that remains a mystery until the final half.

Michael T. Watkins crime horror thriller is definitely not going to re-invent the wheel. Often feeling like the pilot to a television drama with an unfocused narrative and plot holes, "Circle" is definitely a flawed film, but for what it is, it's a solid and interesting horror entry with great performances, a tense second half and America Olivo. You can't go wrong with her.