Movie Review - The Perfect Stalker

The Perfect Stalker

2016

The Cast

  

In this film, we have the story of a woman supposedly suffering from HPD - Histrionic Personality Disorder.  And the opening sequence, except for the psychiatrist scene, sets the rest of the film up brilliantly.  The trouble with the psychiatrist scene is that it all feels too staged.  It's quickly edited and after only one session the shrink knows what's going to happen - she appears more a fortune teller than a doctor.  It's the way this is delivered and shot that made me cringe inside.  It all feels like it's only been added to the film to make everything black and white for the viewer.  Give your audience credit, they probably could have figured out the storyline without this horrid scene.

However, that said the rest of the film bears no resemblance to this scene.  The director, Curtis Crawford is pretty adept at using lighting, camera work, and location to set the scenes with atmosphere and tension.  Though a couple of scenes could have been a little longer to build the tension a little more.  It's a shame that he lets the pace slow down a little near the climax when it should be climbing to its zenith.

The acting is above average and I have to say that there is a brilliant scene where Grace (Savre) cuddles up with her man, Robert (Brown), and the look on her face is just so creepy and chilling - awesome scene, nice and powerful.  This is one of those movies where the actors really do believe that there are no small parts, for they all give their best, which adds to the power and believability of the story.

As for the story, it's been done before and though there's nothing really new it's still a strong tale.  Yes, it might have been nice to see a little more about Grace's background.  Not that she may have been through some trauma which has lead her down this path, but of her relationship with her husband as it's evident at the start of the movie he really loves her.  A little bit more background leading up to her condition and his death would have made the story stronger.  If the writers could have added a few lesser used scenarios and twists this again could have made it stronger.

However, this is a watchable and enjoyable thriller which I would recommend to lovers of this genre and to those who haven't watched this style of film before.  If there also happens to be little on to watch when it's raining or snowing outside, this isn't a bad one for a duvet day.

I give this an enjoyable average 5.5 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Deadly Stage Fright

Deadly Stage Fright

AKA:  Stage Fright

AKA:  Her Final Bow

2017

The Cast

This is Fred Olen Ray's modern update of The Phantom of the Opera... and it could have worked.

Sarah Conrad (nicely portrayed by Jordan Ladd) has not been on stage for the last three years after being traumatised by a stalker attack.  Now a newly renovated theatre is set to open and they have Sarah's old understudy, Melissa (played venomously by Rachel True) set to appear on opening night.  However, somebody may have a different agenda.

To be honest, the cast is pretty much hit and miss, the film is carried by Ladd, True, Pietruszewski, and Hutzler.  Unfortunately, the latter two actors characters, Mark and Ryan respectively, could have been filled out a little more to make them interesting.  This along with a slow and boring pace really do hinder the film.  The slowness wouldn't have been a bad thing as long as there were tension and atmosphere there... but there wasn't.

The major downfall was the totally unenigmatic and dull stalker.  Granted, the majority of stalkers are probably dull and normal, though for a story such as this you at least need to give them a predatory air.  Again this was missing.

All in all, the story needed streamlining as more than a few scenes were superfluous. Characters need to be flushed out more.  Tension, atmosphere, and mystery, needed to be added into the mix.  And the one gaping hole in the story needed to be addressed.

The gaping hole is Sarah's previous attack.  Though the police were there and they shot the perpetrator nobody caught sight of his face or knew who he was.  Since the body fell off a bridge into a fast flowing river the body was never found.  Since this stalking had been going on for a while it's hard to believe nobody knew anything at all about the attacker.

I'd not recommend anybody to watch this film, though if there's nothing else on and you have time to kill you could give it a try.

A could have been better 4 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - A Deadly Obsession

A Deadly Obsession

2012

Production Companies:  Moody Independent

My main motivation for watching this movie was Katee Sackhoff.  I find that she's a strong actress who brings a power and intensity to her roles and she does that here.

Suzanne is a psychologist and tutor who is trying to help Conner resolve his issues; unfortunately, Conner is in love... with Suzanne.  When she drops him as a client and recommends him to another psychologist he decides to prove his love for her in a rather violent fashion.  However, Suzanne is also under psychiatric observation as her troubled past has her worried that she too might possess violent tendencies similar to her mothers.

This being a TV movie, Weissman writes it as such.  This would make a great thriller if it were as dark as the premise suggests, though as a TV movie it's a fair shade lighter, though it still comes off well, though this is down to both the leads, Sackhoff and Harvey.  

The direction is pretty standard fare for television, there's nothing new in either the camera work or scene settings.  However, Stimpson does a good job with the pace of the film.  It's slightly faster and punchier than average which keeps the audience interested and the story flowing.  There are some drawbacks though as the students are your stereotypical kind and they are pretty annoying at times, especially when in the boiler room.  This is the time you're hoping the killer finds them.  Also, John Shea is very two dimensional as the other psychologist, though I've never rated him as a great actor ever since I saw him as Lex Luthor in Lois and Clark.  Luckily, Lively's character and her flirtatious interactions with campus security guard Olsen, played by Bates Wilder add a nice warm hearted feeling and a more relatable point of view for the audience.

This is a watchable and an enjoyable thriller which could have been better.  Though it is worth at least one viewing and I'd recommend it to anybody who likes psychological thrillers.  It's perfect for evening or Sunday afternoon viewings when you just want to relax and chill out.

Movie Review - No Surrender

No Surrender

2011

Incendo Productions / Incendo 2010-03 Production

Incendo Media

6.5 / 10

Though this is a TV movie, so no big budget to play with, the writers Michael Ades and Scott Abramovitch along with the Director Tristan Dubois give the audience a multi-layered tale of stalking and twisted vengeance.

The premise of the story is pretty basic; Amelia Davis (Mena Suvari) starts a blog after being the victim of spousal abuse and builds a fanbase and following of other similar sufferers of abuse, and tries to help them find a way to leave their violent relationships.  However, she is attacked one night and the possible perpetrators are numerous.   Could it be her ex, who she helped imprison, though is now out on parole; could it be her new boyfriend who may not be as clean cut as he makes out; or could it be a stalker fan.  Once the story gets going the twists start coming thick and fast and each is as believable as the other.  It had me guessing right up to the end when it suddenly became painfully obvious who it was... and that the ending even has a twist in its tale.

Dubois does an exceptional job with the pace of the movie, slowing it down for the more dramatic scenes and screeching it up to maximum to build excitement.  This is a well-crafted piece.

The acting is above average, though the best character is Carlo Rossi who is brilliantly portrayed by Joseph Mesiano.  He gets the gets the swarthy, suave, sexy, smooth, smug, and smarmy personality just right as you are never too sure about him and his motives.

It's all of this which kept me entertained and away from the stop and delete buttons when it came on the telly.  To be truthful, I really enjoyed this film and couldn't find much wrong with it at all.  So if you like mystery movies this is one to watch.  Though, it's not one you would watch over and over again because once it's been solved there's not much else to bring you back to the film.  I would watch it again, should I ever forget the outcome...