Escape

Cool movie! Kim and Kyle are beautiful. The movie is suspenseful and exciting. And I loved the little takeoffs on Escape to Witch Mountain. Kim is always lapsing into those familiar little dream sequences, running from dogs, and even the title seems like a tip of the hat to the earlier movie. All in all, this one was a lot of fun. I recommend it most highly.

My review was written in October 1990 after watching the movie on Quest Entertainment video cassette.

Escaping after three years on the shelf, "Escape" is a low-key, souther-fried melodrama released direct-to-video.

Probably unintentionally the heroine Kim Richards and hero Kin Shriner resemble Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, stuck in a tiny North Carolina town owned and ruled by corrupt Judson Scott.

Richards, who also co-produced the feature, has traveled from Chicago to find out what really happened to her brother (whom we see murdered by Scott's henchmen in a prolog). Shriner is a mysterious stranger who rides into town on a motorcycle with an unknown agenda.

Plot revolves around a belief in ghosts. In particular, the ghost of Lydia (Kyle Richards, presumably the lead's sister, who she resembles) keeps appearing. Unfortunately, the supernatural subplot is never resolved.

With a voice uncannily like Moore's, Kim RIchards makes a good impression. Kim Milford has an okay turn as a slightly backward local guy who is befriended by the visiting good guys. Scott's bad guy could have used some shading.

Okay suspense movie reminded me of the old ABC Tuesday Night at the Movies of the early 1970's (Crowhaven Farm, People Under the Stairs, etc...) where a heroine (in this case Kim Richards) comes to a town where everybody and everything is "strange." Oooh. Not to much action or gore just a strange feeling. Kyle Richards, Kim's younger sister also appears in the movie. More interesting is that the story written and produced by Kim Richard's husband is a homage to Richard's Disney film "Escape to Witch Mountain" and the non-Richard's Disney film "Watcher in the Woods." Hence the tile "Escape," the opening credits, the plot about Richard's and her twin brother possessing ESP between each other, etc... A fine curiosity to add to anyone collecting those Disney films...with one warning...the opening sequence does contain an R-rated scene (a close up of big boobies bobbing) that is out of place to the rest of the film. They were a nice pair as boobies go (alas not of any Richards however). Catch "Escape" if it comes to commercial TV if you want it edited for your protection. If you want to see the boobies rent it.

Escape (1990), is an enjoyable suspense movie. While the writing for this film was less than superlative, the acting was very good. As usual Kim & Kyle Richards are DDG. This is the first movie they have done together since "The Car." Filmed entirely on location in North Carolina, this movie features Kathy Richards, (Kim & Kyle's older sister), as the casting director. Watch closely for a rare screen appearance by Monty Brinson, (Kim's husband at that time). He is the mechanic at the gas station where Kin Shriner takes his bike for repairs. This film is a MUST SEE for all fans of Kim!!!