To Kill a Stranger

Singing star Cristina Carver (Angelica Maria, who performs one song) is on her way to see her husband John (Dean Stockwell) when she wrecks her rented BMW. She walks to a gas station, gets a lift from wealthy Colonel Kostik (Donald Pleasence at his creepy best) and goes back to his large house to use his phone. He turns out to be a psychotic sex predator who lies about having a wife, tries to rape and strangle her and then chases after her with a shotgun. After hitting him over the head several times and shooting him, he finally dies, she panics, throws the body in a well and buries the evidence... scared his stature and reputation as a respected war hero will kill her chances at a fair trial. And she seems to be right!

Though a bit far-fetched, this thriller (which was filmed in 1982) is making serious statements about police and military corruption in South American countries and of the poor legal rights given to international tourists abroad. Other than Pleasence and Stockwell, people may be interested in seeing Aldo Ray as a police inspector and Mad Magazine cartoonist Sergio Aragones (who was very badly dubbed) as a military officer. American director Paul Leder (I DISMEMBER MAMA) was the post production supervisor.

This movie was made primarily by Mexican talent, so given the time period this was made, you can probably figure that this won't be a very slick production. It has a made-for-TV feel despite being made for theaters, there are a couple of botches with the editing (two scenes seem to be out of order, for one thing), and you never get a real feeling of being in a foreign land with all the generic locations (indoors and outdoors) chosen.

Still, I have to admit that I was never bored at any time watching this movie. The movie did make me curious as to how the protagonists would handle the situation, and also how the movie would be resolved. As a bonus, you get to see a hammy Donald Pleasence play a would-be rapist/killer, and see MAD Magazine artist Sergio Aragones play a hotheaded member of the military. If you are prepared for a somewhat crudely-made movie, chances are that you'll find the movie agreeable and forgive its shortcomings.