Out of Blue

As Detective Mike Hoolihan (Patricia Clarkson) delves into the mystifying case of Jennifer Rockwell's (Mamie Gummer) untimely demise, she uncovers a tangled web of secrets and deceit. The astrophysicist's lifeless body was discovered by the observatory manager (Toby Jones), who claimed to have been elsewhere all night with an associate. A cursory examination of the crime scene revealed few clues: a sock belonging to Jennifer's boyfriend, a jar of moisturizing cream, and no apparent weapon, despite the gruesome nature of her fatal wound.

The investigation takes a peculiar turn when Mike's gaze falls upon a Florida snow globe at Jennifer's home, which prompts an unsettling vision of unique blue marbles eerily reminiscent of one adorning her neck. As she regains consciousness, Jennifer confides in Mike about the marble's significance, tracing it back to her orphaned past. Her co-investigator and supervisor speculate that this case bears hallmarks of "The .38 Caliber Killer," a serial killer who had gone dormant for years, with a penchant for exchanging trinkets with his victims.

As Mike digs deeper into the crime scene, she uncovers a seemingly unrelated clue: a .38 revolver gun case, along with a crimson scarf that Jennifer had been having recurring dreams about. Further forensic analysis reveals that the firearm originated from the observatory manager's possession, whom he had attempted to dispose of it to avoid suspicion. Mike's deductions lead her to conclude that Jennifer was, in fact, her own assassin.

In an extraordinary twist, Mike scrutinizes crime scene photos and discovers a glaring omission: the jar of moisturizing cream, which Jennifer herself had mentioned. Her subsequent purchase of the same product triggers a flood of memories, as if the scents and sensations have awakened long-dormant recollections. A video recording of Jennifer's black hole presentation reveals a shadowy figure sporting a hat eerily reminiscent of her father's attire.

As Mike continues to unravel the enigma, she pays a visit to Jennifer's family home, where she uncovers an old brooch belonging to Jennifer that had gone missing from the crime scene. The discovery sets her on a collision course with Jennifer's two brothers, whose lives are forever intertwined with the mystery of her own untimely demise.

As Mike delves deeper into the lives of the family members, a sense of trepidation settles over her like a shroud. The imposing figure of Jennifer's father (James Caan) looms large, casting a long shadow that seems to silence even the most well-intentioned among them. Meanwhile, Mike notices an eerie inconsistency in a family photo: an object from one of the notorious .38 Caliber Killings makes a chilling appearance, its presence like a ticking time bomb waiting to unleash a maelstrom of memories and suspicions.

As she continues her investigation, Mike discovers a crucial piece of evidence that sets her heart racing: a witness from one of the old murders recounts the suspect's gait, eerily reminiscent of Jennifer's father's distinctive limp. The photos of him only add fuel to the fire, as he appears to switch his cane from hand to hand with an unsettling inconsistency.

The truth begins to seep out like a slow-moving fog: Jennifer's father had been stalking and slaughtering young women who bore a striking resemblance to his own mother, but his killing spree had inexplicably ceased when his daughter Jennifer was born. Armed with this new knowledge, Mike makes her way to a gun shop and purchases a .38 revolver, her resolve firming like cement.

Confronting Jennifer's father, Mike is met with a mixture of anger and condescension as he deftly wrestles the gun from her grasp, his words dripping with honeyed persuasion. Shaken but not defeated, Mike returns to the observatory, where the weight of her suspicions threatens to crush her. In a moment of desperation, she turns to an abandoned house on the outskirts of town.

As she steps inside, the dusty air thickens like a veil, and Mike is suddenly transported back in time to relive the brutal murder of her own mother. She was hiding in a closet when the .38 Caliber Killer struck, leaving behind a trail of carnage and shattered innocence. Young Mike emerges from the shadows, tenderly applying moisturizing cream to her dead mother's lifeless hands, pleading with her to awaken.

The blue marbles scattered across the floor like a morbid confetti, and young Mike exits the house with a police officer by her side, the Florida snow globe - a symbol of the killer's twisted fixation - now forever lost. With the mystery solved, Mike finally finds the courage to confront her own demons, driving away from the abandoned house as the weight of her revelations settles upon her like a mantle.