When the good becomes bad

MANILA, Philippines - Gerald Butler will surprise audiences again with his cunning performance as a vengeful family man in murderous rampage. An actor attracted to diversified portrayals, Gerald stars with Jamie Foxx in the action thriller Law Abiding Citizen where they are pitted against each other in a battle of wits.

The plot revolves around murderer Clyde Sheidon (Butler) who plans a series of killings to avenge the massacre of his family. He is lone survivor of a random home burglary that killed his wife and daughter.

He is targeting key personalities involved in his case while inside the jail. And he has issued a warning for the bloody spree.

Before going behind bars, Sheidon was an upright family man. But the tragedy made him a serial killer. He feels the Philadelphia prosecutor handling his family’s case, Nick Rice (Foxx), didn’t exhaust all means to penalize one of the suspects by giving him a light sentence for testifying against the latter’s accomplice.

Sheidon’s patterned crimes began 10 years after his loved one’s murderer got away from justice. Surprisingly, he admits responsibility and even presents a chilling warning to Rice that he will continue the killing unless flawed justice is fixed.

Director Gary Gray describes Butler’s character as both victim and monster. “Gerard had an immense challenge with this character and delivered one who can live in two worlds. He is an average man who acts out thoughts most of us won’t admit to in a million years. He has been horribly victimized. That is why throughout the course of the movie, you’re constantly switching allegiances, and depending on the scene, you’re not really sure who to root for.”

Butler spent time with criminologists and explored the psyche of serial killers to prepare for the role. The believable clash between his role and that of Foxx’s proved valuable to the project.

“What I have always loved about this movie is how closely these two (characters) are bonded together,” Butler says.

With Kurt Winner behind its screenplay, the movie also stars Viola Davis, Bruce McGil, Colm Meaney, Leslie Bibb, Michael Irby, and Regina Hall.

Released by Viva International Pictures, Law Abiding Citizen opens Nov. 4 in theaters.