Probable Cause

"Probable Cause" is a nice showcase for Michael Ironside in a lead performance as the good guy for a change. The plot revolves around a series of cop killings, with suspicion pointing early on to the likely suspect. What is intriguing about the film, is the real mystery is the motive behind all the stabbings. With Ironside slowly uncovering the facts, a bang up conclusion finally reveals the "why" in flashback mode. M. Emmet Walsh makes a brief appearance as a Doctor who happens to be an expert regarding sleepwalking. The acting overall is totally acceptable. Seek this one out if you like your slasher movies to actually have a plot. You will not be disappointed. - MERK

Police detective Gary Yanuck (Michael Ironside) is facing sexual harassment accusation from his previous partner (Brooke Adams). He's told to treat his new partner Lynn Reilly (Kate Vernon) with extra care while searching for a cop killer. She is struggling with sleepwalking and other personal issues.

This is a police crime mystery drama. There are way too many long slow quiet scenes. They are trying to build atmosphere, but it comes off as filling empty space. Initially, I couldn't buy that he's not suspended although it is a different time. It's nice to see Ironside leading. It's a TV mystery movie filmed in Canada. There are surprisingly some veteran recognizable actors in support. Mostly, it's the pacing that is the problem. The director needs to push harder on the pacing and give some more thrills.

I was pleasantly surprised by the intrigue of this film that I, of course, began at this web site user review section. And it hasn't steered me wrong yet. Excellent acting not complicated get good twists the second of which I didn't see coming. You won't regret time spent on it.

This is not too bad of an obscure Made in Canada TV movie starring Michael Ironside as a cop who tries to investigate a series of police murders, where the real mystery and intrigue lies in the motives behind the killings.

The entire atmosphere of the movie gives you a mysterious, somewhat depressing and serious feeling and the acting was pretty on par. There is also a little bit of several movie elements, from suspense to drama, and from action to romance. The subplot of the lead detectives female partner and her sleepwalking issue adds onto the unpredictable intrigue of the movie.

Though I've seen better made for TV movies, this one is not a bad to watch on slow Saturday night.

Grade B-

"Probable Cause" is a 1994 TV-movie starring Michael Ironside and Kate Vernon, and featuring Craig T. Nelson.

Someone is killing police officers, but Gary Yanuck (Ironside) has his own problems. He is accused of sexually harassing another officer (Brooke Adams, in a minuscule role) and has refused to apologize, claiming he did not lay a hand on her. He's under a cloud. He's assigned a new partner, Lynn Reilly (Vernon) who is an odd duck. She occasionally passes out and other times seems out of it. Worried, Yanuck approaches her psychiatrist and, after handing him a phony warrant, learns that Lynn was married before but doesn't remember her marriage. Later we learn that something terrible happened to her that she can't remember. In the meantime, she appears to sleepwalk.

When she discovers an important pattern to the murders, Yanuck realizes that she's in danger and may be, in fact, the next victim.

This is a slow film and because Kate Vernon plays a psychologically repressed woman and has to walk around pretty zombie-like most of the time, her performance doesn't add much spark to the movie. Michael Ironside as a cop was very good, but I didn't find him particularly likable. So I wasn't very invested in either character.

The end was not surprising on one hand and on the other, had a slight twist. Not sure it was worth it.

Kate Vernon was around a lot in the '80s, and she's still very active, but I never watched Battlestar Galactica or other shows in which she appeared. She is a better actress than you would believe in this film.

Wasn't impressed.