La nuit du mal

The psychotherapist Julie Kaiser (Joan Van ARK) carries a severe childhood trauma with her: she witnessed the murder of her parents. After 25 years, the alleged murderer (Geoffrey LEWIS) is released and vows revenge. A smart police officer (James READ, known from NORTH AND SOUTH) stands by the frightened Julie...

In this film, Joan Van ARK finally has a nice bed scene with her colleague James READ, and in KNOTS LANDING, as brave Valene Ewing, she had to leave the really hot scenes to her eternal opponent Abby Cunningham (Donna MILLS). By the way, Chris SARANDON is there as Julianne's brother.

Dr. Julianne Kaiser (Joan Van Ark) is a psychiatrist, who has some clients and hosts a talk show in the radio. She has a daughter and is divorcing from her husband Max (Barry Flatman). She has a brother, Lloyd Carson (Chris Sarandon), who is a constructor. Julliane has a trauma: twenty-five years ago, when she was a teenager, her parents were killed and she accused Parmenter (Geoffrey Lewis), a man who lived in a small room in the back of her house. He was condemned to twenty-five years in prison, but he always claimed he was innocent. When Parmenter is released, he looks for revenge against Julianne. This movie is a good thriller, having a few clichés. Its greatest problem is the running time, too long for the plot. But hooks the attention until the end of the story. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Quando a Morte Chama' (`When Death Calls')

First, the plot. (No spoiler.) A radio call-in show host has repressed the memory of her parents' murder, and things get scary when the man, convicted of the murder by her testimony, gets out of prison 25 years later.

I think this is an awful movie. The "thriller" ending won't surprise you, and the plot twists are silly on top of being predictable. The acting is below average, except for Chris Sarandon, and his role is not very challenging. Joan Van Ark is on the screen for almost every shot, and I'm sorry to say that she just can not carry the movie. I watched it through to the end only because she's very attractive and has great legs. And the director uses every contrived chance to show off her legs.