Killer Image

Despite a small role from a tall actor, there is nothing lanky about Steve Merchant's performance as Kirk in Killer Image.

Even though this only seems to be his first Hollywood movie, he displays the cool attitude of a modern day actor like Clive Warren.

While he wasn't able to display them in this movie, Merchant's past experience with wire work and stunt falls truly shone through in this movie.

Mark this movie as the start of his now budding action star career. His next role should have his imagined riches turning real, with these kinds of performances.

As for the remainder of the cast, they turn in serviceable performances. While Ironsides is as good as usual, I'd rather just watch an episode of Columbo over this forgettable movie.

My review was written in December 1992 after watching the movie on Paramount video cassette.

"Killer Image" is a well-made Canadian suspense feature debut that has inexplicably opened at year's end in Los Angeles to qualify for Oscar consideration. Its natural home is home video, where Paramount Home Video released it this past summer.

M. Emmet Walsh toplines as a corrupt senator whose brother, perennial screen baddie Michael Ironside, is shown dumping a body in the film's opening.

Incriminating photos of Walsh with a prostitute, snapped by Paul Austin, cost the shutterbug his life. Austin's brother Max (John Pyper-Ferguson) is out to set things right, but Ironside frames him for the murder of another hooker and discredits him with the police as a "boy who cried wolf".

Filmmaker David Winning, in his second feature assignment, has a plot that becomes increasingly far-fetched as Ironside's complicated schemes keep going awry. Pyper-Ferguson teams up with his brother's girlfriend, lovely American thesp Krista Errickson, and of course a romance develops.

Storyline resolves itself with Pyper-Ferguson turning Walsh and Ironside against each other. The symmetry of brothers versus brothers is not fully developed since Austin's role is minor.

Though the film is set in the U. S., its Calgary area locations are attractive, including a cliffhanger finale above surging water rapids. Cast is okay.

Two points, one for Michael Ironside, and one for M. Emmet Walsh, both of whom are trapped in this truly terrible film. The writing is some of the worst ever, with zero character development, and scenes that seem to have been randomly inserted in no particular order. Confusion abounds, and the viewer will quickly lose interest. Why should anyone care about characters we know nothing about, in situations that make little sense. Even with the presence of Ironside and Walsh, "Killer Image" is a stinker of major proportions. After about 40 minutes, I couldn't take any more punishment, and hit the eject button. Just one more DVD for my garage sale. - MERK

Why is it that Canadian-made movies are so wooden?

The script of this movie has potential but it just doesn't work. I think it may be the editing. There is no pacing. The scenes just move along without any buildup of tension.

The movie includes two experienced actors, Michael Ironside and M. Emmet Walsh, with Ironside taking the lead as the anti hero.

Nothing really happens to make the movie interesting. The hero, John Pyer- Ferguson is unimpressive; the dialogue is boring and the plot is predictable and moves like molasses. Even the color was washed out.

I started to watch this movie on the late show and got so bored that I ended up surfing the Internet at the same time and felt that I missed nothing.

This is a great film. Can't believe this film is so underrated. It's one of the best thrillers of the year. You really should watch this one. You'll like it. The performance are very good. Good psycho thriller.