Lying in Wait

Obviously a low budget film that went straight to video, but hugely better than most that fit that bill, and better than many so-called studio thrillers as well. While it's not jump in your seat scary, it's more creepy, foreboding, and surprisingly literate. How many movies quote from "Day of the Locust" which ties into the plot as well. This movie is saying quite a bit, I think, about Hollywood, illusion and reality, etc. And it's got Virginia Madsen showing us her thong underwear on the beach!

Although I'm not sure this film works as a thriller, it is an effective character study. Babee is the reclusive son of a late television star who lives alone in a large, somewhat decrepit, Hollywood mansion. His only friend is a beautiful young neighbor who grew up with him. His life changes drastically when a troubled couple (Rutger Hauer and Virginia Madsen) moves in next door. Hauer's amoral character, Keith Miller, decides to tutor Babee in the finer things in life (drinking, gambling and women). After Miller is severely brain damaged in an accident, Babee becomes his caretaker. When Miller's enemies start dying, however, Babee becomes convinced that Miller is faking his injury. Although most people could predict the ending around the beginning of the movie, "Lying in Wait" is well made and the acting is very good.

Lying in Wait is a well developed characters study, you know these people. The movie is a plot driven thriller with a twist. The movie is not driven by sex or violence though both ocur in very limited moderation. The screen play is worth watching twice to get the nuances and subtle humor. Other than Rutgar Howard, most of the actor/actresses are not recognizable and maybe with the exception of "L" deliver fair to good performances. If you watch it twice, Rutger gets a little old as he continues to get older. The film quality is grainy and the sets are somewhat dark, which fits with the dark quality of the subject matter. I have seen better films, but certainly have seen worse. There is no doubt that Lying in Wait is a low budget film, but generally a well done low budget film. 

I admit I'm a big Rutger fan, which is why I rented the movie, and Virginia Madsen is no slouch either. And I must say I was quite impressed with the film! It's not jump out of your seat scary, more creepy and foreboding. Pretty good acting all around (I especially liked Thomas Newton) and solid direction, camera, etc. But the thing is, I realized at the end of the movie that it's not about Babee, the young, reclusive artist, but about the girl next door! I think she may be the true crazy! Pretty good script, interesting little film. I totally recommend this little gem!

Six months after Babee Gordon's mother Sue died, Mr. Horn recommends he sell the house because the trust fund is running out and Babee doesn't seem capable of making a living, though he does like to paint. Sue was a wealthy and reclusive actress who apparently had a popular TV series. She was also a talented artist, though it's not clear if she made any money other than from her acting career. Babee was a prop man's poodle, though Sue acted like it was hers, and what she did when her son was born was unbelievably cruel. We never learn about Babee's father.

Keith and Vera are Babee's new neighbors. Vera flirts with Babee, and Keith seems to enjoy spending time with Babee's pretty, perky and selfish aspiring dancer girlfriend El. At a party, Keith wants to fix Babee up with Lois--which makes no sense because Keith wants her too. Lois didn't care for Sue's TV series.

Keith and Vera are obviously not happy in their marriage, but Keith is unwilling to get a divorce.

Keith enjoys living on the edge (no, I won't make a 'Smallville' joke here). He makes his living gambling, having become discouraged working in the film industry. Apparently he's very good at it, because he has a nice house. He doesn't believe in insurance, but his wife does. She has a life insurance policy which will pay her well if Keith dies. Fortunately, she also seems to have health insurance which covers Keith.

George wants to exhibit Babee's art work at the Fletcher Gallery. Apparently Babee inherited his mother's talent.

Several murders and attempted murders take place, and the person we believe committed the murders has a perfect alibi.

The ending made no sense--at first. The movie was progressing in a certain way, and it seemed like the writers defied logic to rush the movie to its conclusion when they ran out of time. Or did they?

Rutger Hauer does a fine job here. At the horse track, Keith's passion is clear. And there's another dimension to Hauer's performance which I don't want to give away.

I thought Shannon Whirry was Elizabeth Berkley at first, but she's too good an actress--deliciously evil is a good way to describe her performance. And she's quite pretty.

Ian Buchanan also had a nasty side, also reminiscent of the campy soaps such as 'Dallas' and 'Dynasty'.

In my opinion, most of the leading actors did a good job. I'm not sure, though, about Vanessa Dorman, who narrated the movie at times.

This is not a movie for kids. The characters seem to have no morals, except possibly Babee, El, and the detective. And even Babee wasn't that moral.

I didn't like most of the music (not counting background music, which I don't really recall). For example, there is the alternative rock 'Black Sleep' used with the closing credits, which is a style so many people enjoy these days. But Keith did play the accordion several times, and for me that was enjoyable.

This is certainly not the high-quality production that a series like 'Desperate Housewives' is, but at times it achieves at least some of the campy feeling. There are some good moments.