The late Donald Cammell ("Performance", "Demon Seed") opts to go for nuance rather than convention in this oddball, experimental drama. People expecting more of a linear drama or Hollywood-type thriller will be sorely disappointed. It's not always that satisfying, but at least it does manage to be interesting. The atmosphere of the setting is well realized, and colourful roles are given to a variety of character actors. At the core of the thing are two vivid and memorable performances by the two stars, David Keith and Cathy Moriarty.
After making quite a splash in "Raging Bull" and "Neighbors", Moriarty returned to films after an absence of several years, playing married woman Joan White. Her husband Paul (Keith) is a sound and electronics expert, and a fairly charismatic guy, but he falls under suspicion when a succession of housewives fall victim to a serial killer in their affluent desert community.
The big reveal of the story occurs sooner than one would expect, leading to a not entirely predictable finale. Cammell directs with a lot of style - some might argue TOO MUCH style, because he goes awfully overboard on giant closeups of eyeballs. But this is a reasonably entertaining examination of one persons' mental state, and how their worst instincts run contrary to their outgoing demeanour. There's some lovely ladies and definite sex appeal, but not all that much graphic violence.
Both Keith and Moriarty are excellent, with Keith managing to remain somewhat engaging through to the end. Art Evans ("Fright Night", "Die Hard 2") is the easygoing detective on the case, Michael Greene ("To Live and Die in L.A.") his associate, Alan Rosenberg ('L. A. Law', "The Wanderers") the obnoxious city slicker, Alberta Watson ("The Keep", 'La Femme Nikita') the oversexed socialite, and William G. Schilling ('Head of the Class', "Ruthless People") the local sheriff.
Scripted by Cammell and his wife China Kong (sister of schlock director Jackie Kong), based on the novel "Mrs. White" by Andrew and Laurence Klavan. Music by rock stars Rick Fenn and Nick Mason, of the bands 10cc and Pink Floyd respectively.
Seven out of 10.
After making quite a splash in "Raging Bull" and "Neighbors", Moriarty returned to films after an absence of several years, playing married woman Joan White. Her husband Paul (Keith) is a sound and electronics expert, and a fairly charismatic guy, but he falls under suspicion when a succession of housewives fall victim to a serial killer in their affluent desert community.
The big reveal of the story occurs sooner than one would expect, leading to a not entirely predictable finale. Cammell directs with a lot of style - some might argue TOO MUCH style, because he goes awfully overboard on giant closeups of eyeballs. But this is a reasonably entertaining examination of one persons' mental state, and how their worst instincts run contrary to their outgoing demeanour. There's some lovely ladies and definite sex appeal, but not all that much graphic violence.
Both Keith and Moriarty are excellent, with Keith managing to remain somewhat engaging through to the end. Art Evans ("Fright Night", "Die Hard 2") is the easygoing detective on the case, Michael Greene ("To Live and Die in L.A.") his associate, Alan Rosenberg ('L. A. Law', "The Wanderers") the obnoxious city slicker, Alberta Watson ("The Keep", 'La Femme Nikita') the oversexed socialite, and William G. Schilling ('Head of the Class', "Ruthless People") the local sheriff.
Scripted by Cammell and his wife China Kong (sister of schlock director Jackie Kong), based on the novel "Mrs. White" by Andrew and Laurence Klavan. Music by rock stars Rick Fenn and Nick Mason, of the bands 10cc and Pink Floyd respectively.
Seven out of 10.