Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Perfect Prey

  • TV Movie
  • 1998
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
470
YOUR RATING
Perfect Prey (1998)
DramaThriller

A former Texas Ranger (McGillis) is recruited by a Houston police captain (Dern) to assist a homicide detective (Moffett), in the search for an elusive serial killer (Keith) who collects ant... Read allA former Texas Ranger (McGillis) is recruited by a Houston police captain (Dern) to assist a homicide detective (Moffett), in the search for an elusive serial killer (Keith) who collects antique dolls.A former Texas Ranger (McGillis) is recruited by a Houston police captain (Dern) to assist a homicide detective (Moffett), in the search for an elusive serial killer (Keith) who collects antique dolls.

  • Director
    • Howard McCain
  • Writer
    • Robert McDonnell
  • Stars
    • Kelly McGillis
    • Bruce Dern
    • D.W. Moffett
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    470
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Howard McCain
    • Writer
      • Robert McDonnell
    • Stars
      • Kelly McGillis
      • Bruce Dern
      • D.W. Moffett
    • 11User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast27

    Edit
    Kelly McGillis
    Kelly McGillis
    • Audrey Macleah
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Capt. Swaggert
    D.W. Moffett
    D.W. Moffett
    • Detective Jimmy Cerullo
    David Keith
    David Keith
    • Dwayne Alan Clay
    Joely Fisher
    Joely Fisher
    • Elizabeth Crane
    Richard Riehle
    Richard Riehle
    • Detective Bevlan
    Gregg Daniel
    Gregg Daniel
    • Detective Footman
    T.J. Kennedy
    • Captain Dan Feagler
    • (as Mike Kennedy)
    Tichina Arnold
    Tichina Arnold
    • Susie
    Marklen Kennedy
    Marklen Kennedy
    • Investigator Lyons
    C.C. Pulitzer
    • Janette Leary
    Nicole Forester
    Nicole Forester
    • Patricia Atkins
    Judith Drake
    • Waitress
    Maree Cheatham
    Maree Cheatham
    • Mrs. Leary
    Thomas Crawford
    Thomas Crawford
    • Deputy #2
    Dan Desmond
    • Mr. Leary
    Javier Grajeda
    Javier Grajeda
    • Deputy #1
    Michael Dean Jacobs
    Michael Dean Jacobs
    • Doug Purcell
    • Director
      • Howard McCain
    • Writer
      • Robert McDonnell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    5.5470
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    5Cate1956

    Decent

    For those that think "Perfect Prey" was better cinema than "Witness" this movie is the "perfect fare" for them. Well acted, the grizzled Kelly McGillis does take her role seriously, and for that we thank her. D.W. Moffett gives a splendid performance, but the true star of the show is David Keith. Never have I seen an actor take such demented delight in smearing red lipstick all over his characters sick, depraved lips. The storyline is decent, with an ending that borrows liberally from "Silence of the Lambs." Great cinema for that Saturday evening when Mom has to wait up for the teen that is out for the night with the family car. "Perfect Prey" is intriguing enough to keep the mind off worry, yet mindless enough that a viewer doesn't have to think as the clock nears one in the morning. For those that love a good storyline that offers a little more bang for the buck, try "Witness." Definitely Kelly McGillis at her finest, if only for the classic scene with a younger and sturdier Harrison Ford where they dance alone in an Amish country barn, a scene where McGillis truly sizzles and smolders with implied sexuality and Amish girl heat.
    guilfisher-1

    David Keith's movie

    For surly he walks away with this and his portrait of a demented serial killer. This is unusual as Keith is always the victim, ala OFFICER AND GENTLEMEN. He was excellent. Kelly McGillis I usually like but felt there was a monotone level of work in this. Her face never showed any emotion except fear. Does she ever enjoy anything? I liked her in WITNESS and TOP GUN where she at least had interesting moments. But wasted in this. I guess we're supposed to see she's a tough detective and determined to catch her prey. Aging Bruce Dern plays a small role of a detective. Dern would have been more interesting if he had ended up the killer as he plays strange roles better. D W Moffett (what does the D stand for?) played another detective and love interest to Kelly. I remember him in AN EARLY FROST as the love interest to Aiden Quinn. A good looking guy too. But give the laurels to Keith for a wonderful job. And to all those lovely ladies he managed to charm into his den. Maybe sometime we could see a serial killer who takes all the beautiful boys and torments them. It would be different as most of the time it's always the women that get chosen.
    7iorillac

    Pretty good thriller

    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.
    8onceasalways

    I kinda liked it!

    Not sure why this movie got such mediocre ratings - it was well acted, well written, and well casted - - and most importantly, suspenseful!

    It's downfall is only that it is totally reminiscent of Silence of the Lambs.. If you liked Silence, you'll probably like this movie too.

    It had everything from the serial killer on the loose to the interview with the psychopathic killer in jail (sniffing the air, even!).. But, I loved Silence - and though I didn't realize the similarities until the end, this held my attention up until the last suspenseful minute.

    Well worth my two hours! Bruce Dern and Kelly McGillis stood out in their roles - good casting.. good movie..
    3vnssyndrome89

    If you liked the first one, AVOID THIS SEQUEL!

    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.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    More like this

    An Unfinished Affair
    5.2
    An Unfinished Affair
    The Nature of the Beast
    6.2
    The Nature of the Beast
    Special Delivery
    6.1
    Special Delivery
    Home Invasion
    5.2
    Home Invasion
    The Gathering
    5.6
    The Gathering
    The Hit List
    5.4
    The Hit List
    Timestalkers
    5.6
    Timestalkers
    Frame of Mind
    4.7
    Frame of Mind
    A Killer Within
    5.0
    A Killer Within
    Death Cruise
    5.9
    Death Cruise
    When the Bough Breaks
    5.9
    When the Bough Breaks
    The Rage
    4.6
    The Rage

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Some dolls were made by Bailey Clark and Margaret Wolf, others were from their private collections.
    • Goofs
      The Texas flag in the Ranger Captain's office is upside down.
    • Connections
      Follows When the Bough Breaks (1994)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • When the Bough Breaks II: Perfect Prey
    • Filming locations
      • Houston City Hall, 900 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas, USA(Miss Crane's place of work)
    • Production companies
      • Imperial Bank
      • Meeker/Greene Entertainment Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 39m(99 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.