Instinct to Kill

Where to start with this movie? How about with the DVD packaging. The back of the box claims the movie is from the director of "Commando" and "Firestarter". Well, that's technically true, but the individual in question (Mark L. Lester) just PRODUCED this movie, not actually directing it. The packaging also puts Mark Dacasco up front and center with a gun, suggesting (along with the title) that this movie is filled with action. While there are some action sequences, there aren't as many as you'd think. The story actually concerns Dacasco helping a woman fend off her psychotic ex-husband, and Dacasco's character isn't as prominent in the movie as you may imagine. But there are a lot more problems than the ones I just described. This is a really low budget movie, which results in shoddy cinematography, sometimes poorly recorded audio, and some real cheesy production values. But even a higher budget would have still resulted in a screenplay which has some really laughable plot turns and actions by the characters. If there had been some more, I might have recommended this movie as an unintentional comedy, but as it is, kill any thought of watching it. By the way, if you are thinking of renting the movie because it reunites the two stars of the cult hit "Drive", know that Kadeem Hardison doesn't have that much screen time and only shares two brief scenes with Dacascos.

"Instinct to Kill" sticks a handful of B-listers in a journeyman production B-flick and lays down a hackneyed storyline which has nothing new to offer. A crime/action/drama, this flick has many deficits including bad acting and direction, gaping plotholes, predictability, obvious cost-cutting, ordinary fight sequences, etc. Pretty much a waste of time, "Instinct to Kill" makes a marginal watch even for the most macho-minded couch potato. (C-)

Loosely based on the book The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner, Instinct to Kill puts Tim Abell and Mark Dacascos back together for the first time since The Base. Turning the story round and telling it much more from the killer's point of view gives the film advantages over the book, not least of which is the fact that we get to see more of Abell. He is the saving of the film, bringing the murderer, his character, to life in a way that Dacascos and Cryder seem unable to do with theirs. Unfortunately interesting characters have been omitted from the book which would have improved the film, but the progress of Jim Beckett reminds me a lot of the Andy Robinson character from Dirty Harry, without the totally over the top acting. It is fervently hoped that Abell does not suffer the same fate as Robinson and remain typecast as the psychotic killer, he is too good an actor for that.

Some of the make up used to disguise the murderer is a little amateurish but other special effects and the fight scenes particularly are very well done. Especially touching is the scene between Beckett and his father. What intrigued me most was Beckett's ongoing murder spree which was conducted without the expected descent into madness or raving looney tunes. He remained the same calculated, in control character throughout, who if you passed him in the street you would have thought nothing of. No rolling eyes giving the insanity away or the dishevelled appearance crying out for the men in white coats to pick him up. Abell plays it straight and it works.

Overall I really enjoyed the film and would recommend it.

Your typical guy movie! Nudity, fight scenes, explosions, blood, sex, bullets flying by your head, chase scenes, fire, more explosions, and some decent acting as well. Instinct to Kill stars Tracy Ryan and Missy Crider as the eye candy. Crider is best remembered for her red-headed performance as Powder's love interest in the under appreciated, POWDER. Since then, she has lost some weight and done a number of interesting, action films. Both Crider and Ryan make the movie watchable. Started slow and ended fast, the movie has its moments. Overall, if you're up around 3am and there's nothing else to watch on cable, this movie is the best!

Lisa Gardner's novel, "The Perfect Husband", upon which this movie is stupid movie based, is a MASTERPIECE. This is knockoff GARBAGE, FULL of plot holes! Most of the events in the movie never even happened in the novel, and many key characters and sequences of events in the book were just plain not in the movie! Boooooooooo! If you REALLY want to experience this story the RIGHT way, you really OUGHT to just read the book. Lisa Gardner is the QUEEN of crime thrillers! And then read all the rest of her books in order in which they were published if you're intrigued by "The Perfect Husband" novel.