Steel and Lace

Very good "B" movie directed by Ernest D. Farino. It was his first as a director, having spent most of his career in visual effects. He was visual effects supervisor for such works as "Dune," and "Children of Dune." Unfortunately, he also did the work for Balls of Fury, which is a stain on his career.

The movie stars the lovely Clare Wren, who commits suicide when her rapist gets off. Her brother, played by Bruce Davison (Longtime Companion, "Touched by an Angel", Short Cuts)works for five years to turn her into a cyborg to get revenge on those who raped her.

He outfits her with some equipment that makes for some gory scenes.

Stars Bruce Davison (X-men), David Naughton (An American Werewolf In London), and Claire Wren as the rape victim/suicide turned killer cyborg. The story is rather unsettling, especially the way it careens back and forth between the dark revenge scenes, over to some fascinating comic bits (such as the forensic scientist who starts to enjoy the creativity of the murders), to dealing with Davison's character, who seems more like a robot than the robot. Perhaps it is unsettling because juxtapositions like that are so often a hallmark of real life as it is lived. The viewer really is kept in suspense about how the next victim will be claimed, and I defy anyone to guess all the deaths correctly beforehand. The dialogue verges on self-parody at times, and elements of several other flicks from Blade Runner to Robocop are borrowed with little attempt at disguise. Yet it all hangs together somehow, perhaps it is the thread of bad romance. A quirky gem.

Steel and Lace is a cool, inventive take on the revenge thriller/gore. Farino has directed a modern gore/thriller. I think this is the Pulp Fiction of its time. New concepts and turns of fate abound in this puzzling film.

A cute blonde lawyer is raped in an alley by a Wall Street Geico type character. He goes to trial and gets off from lack of evidence. He and his 4 buddies own a corporation that has a logo of a hand that is squeezing the world in a claw like grasp. (neat logo) Not being able to cope with the devastating news, the lawyer jumps off a building. Mysteriously, the Wall street crowd is then killed one by one in Ten Little Indians, style.

The director, Francio, really integrates a pastiche of film genres into an action/thriller/gory film that is way above other gore films. A lot of works are derivative to a fault, but this one integrates a lot of genres into a well crafted/shot/edited/music film.

I kept thinking, Death Wish, Gort, Hal, Spit on your Grave, Terminator and other films that were reverently depicted in this surprising film.

The actors and good and production values top notch...considering that this was probably a low budget film, this was an excellent example of good direction and control of the production. I like the way the robot gradually gains awareness about her actions.

Look for it in bargain bin, rental stores, and on cable TV. It is a neat discovery.

A bizarre mix of I spit on Your Grave, crossed with 80s splatter horror films, Terminator-esquire cyborg flicks and journalistic detective stories.

The horror element is made up of the gory deaths the rapists suffer. The deaths are some sick stuff - yet MGM showed it with a 16 rating! There is no way this was made in 1991. I guess this sat on the shelf for at least 5 years. This is pure early to mid 80s. All grey-flecked suits, rolled up sleeves, wide shoulder pads, permed mullets, grey marble, clashing pastels, and bright neon tube lighting. This was made in the 80s and sat on the shelf gathering dust, and no surprise.

There's the occasional laughable B movie dialogue which lifts the film, but the overall grimness of the film makes it hard to watch and stomach.

Out of the all too numerous and all too familiar rape revenge films, "Steel and Lace" emerges as different and clever. This is no "Ms 45", but is definitely better than a lot of lesser exploitation movies. The acting is pretty good, with David Naughton and Bruce Davison best. The story is more than just blood letting, with the rape victim brought back as a cyborg and methodically terminating her tormentors. Her kill methods are somewhat creative, my favorite being decapitation by helicopter blade. Even though this was never intended as anything more than splatter, it has some welcome dark humor in the mix. "Steel and Lace" is a keeper. - MERK