Perfect Prey

As prior detailed review puts it, this is a bit of a sleeper. Admit that catching it on cable now with the ongoing serial sniper in D.C. area in mind. Well, yuck, this has a bunch of connections! White big box truck (not an Astro van but there were early D.C. reports of a while box truck). Film baddie works a circle route of victims. Snatcher not shooter. But same patterns even the film mention of God complex and increase in frequency of attacks. This baddie does key on a 'type' tho. Less random than D.C. Very creepy but yes this film does hold one's interest with the well played sense of everydayness. Good performances. Bad guy is always such a tricky role to cast and play. This one does it. Not the over the top thing of Hannibal so even more icky for real. Give this a try if comes your way and it's your thing. Helps if you enjoy CSI, Law and Order type shows. Gets a little overheated but the soul of film is intact.

The lead roles are obviously a rip off of Mulder and skull from X-Files. The tone, cinematic aesthetic, mood and overall theme is literally inspired by x files.. If you are at all a fan of X-Files don't watch it because it is atrociously an emulation of the show. Even the score and the musical aesthetic is exactly the same i think they use the same for the higher to composer to emulate the exact musical style. It's amazing that this was even given a green light to be aired and broadcast it there's literally zero originality in the screenplay. I can see why it wasn't successful I think viewers kind of picked up on that.

Described as a TV movie, I don't know whether "Perfect Prey" was planned as a TV pilot. Far worse have been deemed suitable for series production. I don't think this watchable piece of work got the exposure it deserved when it first appeared. This is a better than average serial killer thriller. The main characters are certainly well cast.

Kelly McGillis is a natural as the troubled but intelligent and determined investigator, Audrey Maclean. David Keith's performance as the handsome, persuasive killer is chilling. Watching him, you can truly believe that evil is abroad and relishing the suffering of its victims. Bruce Dern does well with the part of Captain Swaggert, with murders on his hands he knows are beyond the abilities of his team to solve without the fresh eye of outside help. Interested viewers will, I'm sure, enjoy the contrast in characterization between Dern's lawman in this movie and his marvellously venal sheriff in "Last man Standing". Last but by no means least, D W Moffett shows real style with his Detective Jimmy Cerullo.

There's a pleasing professionalism about the rest of the cast, who aren't well known. Their work helps to ensure an enjoyable movie. Particularly worth a mention is the young actress given the thankless role of the murder victim in the pink dress. With her body propped up against a nodding donkey, her frozen eyes allow a peek into hell for the imaginative movie watcher. The feeling of brooding sadness in the scene surfaces at various times during the duration of the film, and adds considerable atmosphere.

The movie is effectively directed by Howard McCain and nicely scripted by Robert McDonnell. There's some neat editing by Hanneh Rudkilde. The rest of the crew weren't asleep on the job either. What really damages "Perfect Prey" is the marked resemblance of the plot to that of "The Silence of the Lambs", which many of its potential audience will have seen. In my opinion Kelly McGillis is a more believable investigator than the otherwise admirable Jodie Foster, but that, as they say, is neither here nor there.

It's worth a look, seek it out next time you intend making the sofa look untidy for a couple of hours.

If you liked, 'When the Bough Breaks,' starring Martin Sheen, and Ally Walker, then avoid this like the plague! Martin Sheen and Ally Walker have been replaced by Bruce Dern and Kelly McGillis, and the characters are lost on them. I don't believe either of them have ever even seen the first movie this SEQUEL is based on. Kelly McGillis constantly has these mini breakdowns throughout the movie, and they are totally NOT BELIEVABLE, I would go as far as saying they are laughable. The saddest part of this drek is David Keith, a quality actor who is wasted here. They actually have him talking to porcelain dolls! How original! I saw that on 'Miami Vice,' in 1984.

I have to say I didn't expect too much when I decided to watch this movie. Well it turned out to be a pretty good thriller. It makes you think a little, so I would say the plot's got something good too. I gave 7/10 stars.