Slow Burn

I recently watched Wilder (2000) on Tubi. The story follows a string of murders that lead Detective Wilder to a doctor who becomes her prime suspect. She arrests and interrogates him, but instead of answering directly, he drops hints that suggest her investigation is only scratching the surface-and that a much larger conspiracy may be at play. Now, Wilder must determine whether the doctor is revealing the truth or just cleverly covering his tracks.

Directed by Rodney Gibbons (Silent Night), the film stars Pam Grier (Coffy), Rutger Hauer (Hobo with a Shotgun), Romano Orzari (Kin), and John Dunn-Hill (300).

This is one of those films you watch for the cast-and quickly regret it. The production quality and writing feel like a made-for-TV movie, with a plot that unfolds too conveniently. The dialogue is stiff, the performances lack authenticity, and Pam Grier's typically commanding presence feels forced. The romantic subplot falls flat, and the ending doesn't land with the charm or impact it seems to aim for.

In conclusion, Wilder is a lackluster crime drama with few redeeming qualities. I'd give it a 3/10 and recommend skipping it.

Do you see that DVD cover on the IMDb page for "Wilder"? You know, the one with a police car being blown up, Rutger Hauer carrying a gun and Pam Grier carrying TWO guns? Well, it's pretty misleading: there are no car chases or explosions in this movie, Pam fires only one shot, and Hauer none at all. This is much more of a conspiracy thriller than an action picture, which may be a source of disappointment for some. But even if you can live with that, the story is pretty muddled, the direction lacks style, and the supporting cast (with the exception of Eugene Clark) is mediocre. Rutger Hauer is OK, but it's really Pam Grier who provides the main reason to see this movie. She's still beautiful at 51, and the fleeting glimpses of her past ass-kicking glory are great. Too bad they're just that: fleeting. (**)

As soon as I picked this one of off the shelf warnings were going off in my head ("Bad movie alert! Danger! Danger!). Call me ridiculously optimistic, or just plain dumb, but I still rented it just the same. Seventies blaxploitation icon Pam Grier ('Coffy', 'The Big Doll House', 'Jackie Brown',etc.) is a favourite of mine, as is Rutger Hauer ('Blade Runner', 'Flesh & Blood', 'Salute Of The Jugger'), and the prospect of seeing them act together was just too much for me to ignore. The packaging made this look like another tired serial killer "thriller", the kind that should star Michael Madsen or Eric Roberts or James Russo or Chris Penn and go straight to video. But it is in fact even less interesting than that. The movie quickly degenerates into a lame conspiracy mystery, and smells very much like a failed TV pilot. Grier plays a one dimensional sassy cop, Hauer a very dull Doctor who is initially her leading suspect. The chemistry between the two is zilch, and my goodwill towards both performers is still not enough to forgive this absolutely awful waste of time. I'm straining myself trying to think of anything it all about it to recommend viewing it, but coming up with a big fat zero. Avoid this one at all costs.

You would think that after starring in "Jackie Brown", Grier would have used the success of that movie to reinvigorate her career. Yet just a few years later, Grier found herself starring in this Canadian made-for-DVD cheapie. To be fair, none of the movie's shortcomings can be blamed on her - even in her 50s, Grier looks and sounds great, and brings in some spunk. But the rest of the movie is a bore. It's slow-moving, with some bizarre editing seemingly put in as an attempt to make it more stylish. I know that the idea of teaming Grier up with Rutger Hauer may sound interesting, but they spend less time together than you would probably think. There's a little chemistry in the few scenes they share together, but it's not enough to save the movie. The funk-sounding soundtrack is a nice touch, probably done to remind viewer's of Grier's '70s movies, but that too isn't enough to make this movie worth watching.

Really strange movie. Feels like a failed pilot and first two episodes of a television show that didn't get picked up and was repurposed into a film screenplay and cast with new actors. I've really never seen anything like it.

Strange editing choices (not entirely sure sometimes whether they were deliberate choices for style or the product of a rushed production or what); incomprehensible plot advances; dumbfounding choices made by the characters; if I had to place it in a genre I'd call it "TV Grindhouse" - a genre both created and killed in a single product.

Overall I would say this is worth watching just to try to parse it.