I found this 80's slasher thriller to actually be pretty thrilling even though it doesn't take advantage of the Athens location it's supposedly set in. The police use the blind Joseph Bottoms to help them find a serial killer, implanting a device inside him that supposedly records information he finds out as well as help him see. The machine apparently heightens all of his senses so he's able to feel these murders being committed. He also uses it as self defense, having been beaten up by a group of gay thugs prowling the local train system for victims, later showing them that he really can take care of himself. This hissing gang of young men is pretty offensive, making me wonder how they decided to make these three minor characters so psychotically vile as well as obviously homosexual.
As Bottoms' girlfriend, Kirstie Alley in an early role doesn't make much of an impact although Lana Clarkson, parading around in pasties, does. It's easy to refer to this as Hitchcock like, but I see this more influenced by Brian DePalma who admittedly was influenced by the master of suspense. In spite of looking rather cheaply done, it did hold my attention, and Bottoms gives a good performance. Kier Dullea, who had his own date with A. I. in '2001", has a wacky cameo. This builds up in intensity, and while it took some getting into, the time spent on it was worth while.
As Bottoms' girlfriend, Kirstie Alley in an early role doesn't make much of an impact although Lana Clarkson, parading around in pasties, does. It's easy to refer to this as Hitchcock like, but I see this more influenced by Brian DePalma who admittedly was influenced by the master of suspense. In spite of looking rather cheaply done, it did hold my attention, and Bottoms gives a good performance. Kier Dullea, who had his own date with A. I. in '2001", has a wacky cameo. This builds up in intensity, and while it took some getting into, the time spent on it was worth while.