Out of Sight, Out of Mind

My review was written in April 1990 after watching the movie on Prism video cassette.

Susan Blakely gives an earnest performance in this thriller that turns out to be more like an elongated tv episode than a feature film. It's a direct-to-video release from Greydon Clark, more recently helmer of "The Forbidden Dance".

Blakely plays a mom whose daughter has been killed by the Kabuki Killer. Plagued by nightmares and blackouts, role gives Blakely a field day at portraying a high-strung, paranoid personality.

Chief suspects here in a "Gaslight" format are Blakely's husband, Wings Hauser, and a scruffy undercover cop, Edward Albert. Pic hammers away at her fear of elevators, caused by the trauma of seeing her child kidnapped in a lift prior to her murder.

Director Clark develops some good red herrings, though the major twist is telegraphed and unconvincing. Best sustained sequence limns Blakely's understandable paranoia the first day in a new job following therapy.

Supporting cast is okay except for young Jessica Player's stiff performance as the daughter.