CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) Monster in the Box (2007) User Reviews

I Love These 'Miniature Killer' Stories!

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 22 December 2008]

Another veteran of the big screen, Kathleen Quinlan, makes an appearance here on CSI. I'd couldn't think of her name for the longest time but she has a recognizable face. You'll know her when you see her. CSI had been attracting some big-name, veteran film actors this season.

The most interesting "guest," however, was Lionel Dell/Mitch Doulgas, played by a an odd-looking Brendan Fletcher. Man, this guy had "serial killer" written all over his face, plus attitude, but that's doesn't mean he was the killer. His dad was considered the "The Miniautre Killer," who was caught and then shot his brains out on tape for the CSI workers. However, weeks later another box is on Gil Grissom's desk and clues in it suggest the next killing - unlike the others - is going to be in the future. CSI workers have a couple of days to figure out what room this is, and how to catch the man. Apparently, the elder Mr. Dell was not the killer, but a man covering for someone he loved.

What happens is pretty improbable, but it makes for great theater and I've really enjoyed this long-running (four or five episodes this season) tale of "The Miniature Killer."

Whoever thought up these 'Miniature' stories should be considered for an Emmy.

Another first class miniature killer story

[Hzle · 8/10 · 20 June 2015]

As I've said elsewhere, CSI is at it's best when there are 2 or more episodes devoted to the search for a serial killer. The search for Paul Milander, the blue-paint murders, and these ones are really the cream of an excellent crop.

And this is one of the high points - though I think it's best to watch series 7 together rather than watch the episodes separately. Just my view.

Possible SPOILERS:

Grissom discovers a new miniature that has been sitting in his lab while he's away, including a miniature newspaper dated two days in the future: a murder that has yet to happen, that they may be able to prevent.

There is a mad scramble to find clues about where the building is, who the victim is. But one niggling question remains, how does she die? The police set a trap for the killer, but have they been wrongfooted again..?

More outstanding acting from Paul Guilfoyle as Captain Brass, whose interactions, particularly with the female characters, are often good entertainment.

There is excellent suspense here, but one thing that doesn't work for me is their grief when a fellow officer dies. This is probably a very difficult emotion to convey effectively on screen without too much sentimental over-acting, too many words and icky "sad" music*.

CSI (like most dramas) is at its best when its hinting at relationships and friendships between characters - when they come out and speak their emotions it can be embarrassing.

I remember in series like "Smiley's people" and "Blakes 7" you were watching the actors' faces for a clue to how they felt. Sometimes Grissom manages to be inscrutable, and when he tells a koan it's quite funny. But then he'll say "doesn't make it any easier, does it?" and the effect is lost

* I've noticed that in real life we say really stupid things around the time of a tragedy, and feel mortified about it.

Stupid Mistakes When Done in Haste

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 14 February 2021]

Gil finally opens the box that sat on his desk while he was on sabbatical. It's another miniature, but the date of the murder is in two days. Amazingly, they find the building where the murder is to take place. A former psychiatrist lives there but she seems giddy and like she is on drugs. They now pose a police officer in a position based on the miniature. Of course, they thought they had the guy and he committed suicide, but here is another one. Well scripted and fun, but there is some pretty incompetent police work.

You Were Wrong

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 16 February 2023]

Grissom has just returned to his office and opens a package that he received before his departure for the sabbatical. Surprisingly, he sees a miniature of a murder that has not happened yet. Catherine and he verify the detailed model and based on a newspaper, he sees that the murder will happen on the day after tomorrow. They question whether Ernie Dell would have an apprentice while the team rechecks all the evidences of the miniature cases. Using two flyers on the coffee table of the miniature, Grissom finds the neighborhood covered by both delivery services and Nick and Warrick looks for the possible building where the victim lives. She is the obnoxious psychologist Barbara Tallman, and they bring her to the police station. There, Capt. Brass, Sofie, the CSI and LVPD plot a plan to catch the Miniature Killer, replacing Barbara per the police officer Kamen. When the plan fails and the Kamen dies, they look for Ernie's son.

"Monster in the Box" is another great episode of "CSI", with the return of the Miniature Killer. The CSI and the LVPS believed the murders had been resolved with the death of Ernie Bell, but they were wrong. This serial-killer has proved that he is smarter than Grissom, and now with the huge list of suspects, there will probably many other cases of this witty criminal. When Grissom says that the Miniature Killer has murdered five people, he is wrong, since the victims are: Izzy Delancey, Penny Garden, Raymundo Suarez and Officer Kamen. Barbara Tallman was murdered by Peyton Tallman. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monster in the Box"