Füge eine Handlung in deiner Sprache hinzuTwo uneasy friends, a police officer and a TV talk show host, each pursue the mysterious "handcuff killer" with the aid of an artist who sees - and draws - the killer's crimes before they're... Alles lesenTwo uneasy friends, a police officer and a TV talk show host, each pursue the mysterious "handcuff killer" with the aid of an artist who sees - and draws - the killer's crimes before they're committed.Two uneasy friends, a police officer and a TV talk show host, each pursue the mysterious "handcuff killer" with the aid of an artist who sees - and draws - the killer's crimes before they're committed.
- Regie
- Drehbuch
- Hauptbesetzung
- Willie Gonzales
- (as Antone Pagan)
- Browder
- (as Tom Erawley)
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This movie starts off really well with several unexplained killings involving handcuffs. A woman is fished out of the river, a man swims alone in a swimming pool reminiscent of a scene from Cat People, a construction worker goes down a manhole. The latter two killings are quite graphic, though without being bloody. Meanwhile, an artist draws strange pictures.
A cop who does lousy impressions in his side job as a standup comedian (yet he gets laughs, surprisingly) leads the investigation, leaking information to a tabloid television reporter. Both he and the reporter start courting the artist once they meet her.
Some additional deaths occur. The ending may be predictable, since it's possible to make a good guess as to the identity of the killer early on in the movie. Unfortunately, after the strong opening, no other scene quite lives up. Some scenes have lengthy dialog that doesn't serve the plot or characters. Still, not a bad movie by a long shot.
"The Killing Hour" is a well-crafted but mediocre thriller. Lensed in Manhattan in 1981, low-budget indie was picked up by Jensen Farley Pictures and retitled (more appropriately to subject matter) "The Clairvoyant", subsequently acquired by 20th Century Fox after JFP went under, but unreleased theatrically, appearing instead as a cassette via CBS Fox.
Perry King toplines as Paul McCormack, Mack for short, a tv newsman/phone-in talkshow host who successfully exploits on the air a series of handcuffed-victim murders to increase his ratings and secure job advancement. At first he is aided with inside info by policeman Larry Weeks (Norman Parker), who improbably moonlights as an unfunny standup comic/impressionist (he has to identify his carbons, such as Al Pacino or Geroge Burns for the viewer), but his sensationalist reporting soon puts him at odds with the police led by Lt. Cullum (Kenneth McMillan).
Both the police and Mack are aided by Virna Nightbourne (Elizabeth Kemp), a young artist who is clairvoyant and makes drawings of each murder unconsciously.
After a promising beginning, spotlighting the ingenious rather than gory murders, pic becomes sluggish. Because of the script's paucity of suspects, the identity of the killer is quite predictable. Acting is okay and direction by Armand Mastroianni (previously known for "He Knows You're Alone") is effective within the screenplay's limitations. Lensing by British cameraman Larry Pizer is excellent.
NYC police are trying to find out who is behind a rash of 'handcuff' murders, while a young artist (and psychic) is finding herself drawing the horrid crimes!
Cinema in the early 80's was bombarded with numerous slasher films, which is probably how this film became forgotten, but The Clairvoyant a.k.a. The Killing Hour isn't a routine killer thriller. Mastroianni's story is a solid mystery with plenty of dashes of tension and suspense to keep one engaged. The opening sequences are quite grabbing, the murders are inventive (although not gory), and the plot builds to a great showdown climax. The urban filming locations are terrific, Mastroianni's direction is sleekly well done, and the subtle piano score is a nice touch. The film also carries a kind of sexual vibe through out.
The cast is quite good in their performances. Perry King is great as a TV journalist exploiting the killings. Elizabeth Kemp makes for a likable young heroine as the clairvoyant artist. Norman Parker is charismatic as the police detective who moonlights as a stand-up comic.
Nicely done on all levels, The Clairvoyant makes for a perfect big city thriller.
*** out of ****
Wusstest du schon
- WissenswertesWas listed as a section 3 Video Nasty for obscenity.
- PatzerDuring the swimmer scene the audio of the splashing water doesn't match the action of the swimmer in the pool.
- Zitate
Detective Cullum: I want no labels on him, like "The Handcuff Killer"!
Paul 'Mac' McCormack: [Later, on his TV show] It's obvious that someone wanted to kill me and equally obvious that someone is "The Handcuff Killer"!
- Crazy CreditsDelicious cakes, cookies & brownies: The Well Bread Loaf
- Alternative VersionenThe unrated "director's cut" has been released by Anchor Bay Entertainment under the film's original title, The Killing Hour.
- VerbindungenFeatured in Video Nasties: Draconian Days (2014)
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Box Office
- Budget
- 2.000.000 $ (geschätzt)