The Real Story Behind ‘The Postcard Killings’
The movie ‘The Postcard Killings’ is a gripping thriller starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, but is it based on a real-life story? Even though James Patterson, the author, may not receive much critical acclaim, his immense success is undeniable. Selling over 425 million books worldwide, Patterson is one of the best-selling authors globally, leading to numerous adaptations of his work into movies and TV shows.
Among the successful adaptations are the Alex Cross movies, featuring Morgan Freeman and later Tyler Perry as the detective/forensic psychologist. Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club books also inspired a TV show that ran for a season in 2007. Despite his popularity, major movies based on Patterson’s books are relatively scarce, with one of the notable ones being ‘The Postcard Killings’ in 2020.
Starring Famke Janssen and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the movie follows a detective, played by Morgan, who seeks the killer responsible for his daughter’s murder. The murderer in the film drains victims of blood and arranges their bodies in poses reminiscent of famous artworks, sending postcards to journalists to announce upcoming killings.
While the movie may seem like it draws from real events, ‘The Postcard Killings’ is not a true story; instead, it’s based on a book co-authored by James Patterson and Liza Marklund.
Although there was a real serial killer named J. Frank Hickey, known as ‘The Postcard Killer,’ Patterson and Marklund haven’t indicated that they used this true story for their novel. Hickey, one of America’s first known serial killers, sent postcards about his crimes to the police and the parents of a young boy he had murdered. Ironically, these postcards ultimately led the police to catch him, and he was sentenced to life in prison.
‘The Postcard Killings’ isn’t a true story; it’s a result of James Patterson’s desire to collaborate with Liza Marklund. Patterson, known for co-writing novels with various authors, reached out to Marklund after being impressed by her work, and together, they created the concept for the thriller. They exchanged ideas over email before turning it into a book.
Published in 2010, the movie adaptation faced challenges in development, with directors like Paul Greengrass initially attached but later leaving. Patrick Dempsey was initially chosen for the lead role of Jacob Kanon before Jeffrey Dean Morgan took over. Although the film received mixed reviews and had a modest box office performance, it seems to be gaining popularity through streaming platforms.
– Farheen Ali
