Frustrating ending though. I understand they may have wanted to end it with a slick line by Lauren Hutton, but we don't get the killer's motive or an explanation of what happened to Sophie. A motive is not necessarily important, but at least something about Sophie towards the end would have been nice.
shareI don't think the killer had any motives beyond the kicks he got from controlling the women he stalked. He was just a very methodical serial killer.
I really enjoyed this film - I'm a grown man, and the final scene creeped me out. It has pretty much the same kind of nailbiting suspense that Halloween has.
I also liked the relationship between Lauren Hutton's character and her Lesbian co-worker, played by Adrienne Barbeau. Barbeau at one point notes that her preference doesn't get to Hutton - it may be something that we take for granted today, but seeing a likable, wholesome homosexual character in a 30 year old tv film is kinda heartwarming.
(SPOILERS) The ending was a bit abrupt, but you really don't need to know much more about this guy than that he gets off on terrorizing women. The opening of the film shows his effect on his previous victim, and this was the one guy in the city who could get in anywhere...though I wonder if that occupation actually exists. Carpenter claims in the featurette that it's inspired by a true story but doesn't elaborate. Finding out what exactly happened to Annie would have been good, but she's dead and you really don't need much more than that.
Overall, a really solid movie with some of JC's best staging and direction. I really think he could have been a success on the level of Spielberg if he truly wanted it...this is as good a TV movie as "Duel" (though much simpler to shoot I would imagine). I think his uncompromising nature kept him from true mainstream success...but we like it that way. The fact that so many of his films are being remade shows how influential, and ultimately successful, his work has been.
Now, if only we'd get another movie out of him sometime.
great movie, 1 of his best. hope theres another soon.
we all go a little mad sometimes....
I was combing threw the 'Somebody's watching' comments and just wanted to voice my agreement with lauriescreams it was nice to see Mr. Barbeau in this role. She was very cute and Hutton well who wouldn't want to look like her. I really loved seeing all the scenes of downtown L.A. in the 70's before it was overrun by buildings. I found my heart pounding when she hid under the grating in the basement!
shareI thought this film was excellent. Lauren Hutton made for an endearingly sassy and kooky heroine, with fine support from Adrienne Barbeau, David Birney and Charles Cyphers. Moreover, I found the climax to be quite nerve-wracking. Nice score and impressively polished cinematography, too.
I write bios, therefore I am.
Yeah, this was a TV movie. You shouldn't expect it to be "Halloween". For what it was I thought it pretty good.
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