La prossima vittima

I watched this movie initially assuming it was just Lifetime fodder and it started seeming like such. However, the plot became more and more interesting later as the mystery unfolded. The writer of the movie has given an original and quite plausible explanation to what happens to the lead character. The only things that I didn't like were the inclusion of some stereotypes thrillers tend to fall into (e.g. disbelieving cops), and the final scene, which was unnecessary and threw off the flow. 9/10

On the outside, DEADLY MESSAGE appears to be one of those play-it-safe US TV movies of the 1980s, a mildly supernatural thriller about a woman who has the power to communicate with the dead thanks to a handy ouija board. However, this is only a minor sub-plot of the film, which turns out to be something else entirely: a unique combination of false identity drama, a chase thriller, a murder mystery, and a psychological mystery. It's unwieldy and not entirely successful, but the combination of elements means that it's a lot better than I'd expected.

There are huge flaws here, not least a cheat twist ending which means the viewer has no way of solving the mystery beforehand due to information being kept from them. On the other hand, the cast is solid, including heart throb Michael Brandon as the romantic interest and the tag-team of Kurtwood Smith and Dennis Franz as cops. Kathleen Beller is more sympathetic than most as the heroine, mixed up in one of those "is she mad?" style plot lines.

Amid the clichés, I was amused to notice that this film is heavily inspired by THE TERMINATOR, which was released to cinemas a year previously. An entire sub-plot involves the main character being stalked by a killer who wears sunglasses and a leather jacket and who appears to be unstoppable in sequences which bring to mind the Arnie flick. Hell, they even drafted in THE TERMINATOR's Brad Fiedel to do the soundtrack!

I am surprised nowadays how many TV movies I've seen are slow-moving - and yet, their scripts run about 1 hour and 42 minutes today as opposed to 1 hour and 52 minutes some 20 years ago.

Even with more time to fill, there were TV movies like "Deadly Messages" around that moved at a quick pace, were suspenseful and entertaining.

The story in "Deadly Messages" continues to evolve until the very end, so there is always a surprise around the corner for the viewer.

Laura Daniels (Kathleen Beller) is a pretty young woman living with her attorney boyfriend Michael (Michael Brandon) when one night, as she is trying to gain access to her apartment from the fire escape because she has no keys, she sees the woman staying with them murdered.

Afterward, she becomes convinced - with reason - that the killer is after her, especially after a Ouija board sends a message that says "I am going to kill you."

The police don't believe her; her concerned boyfriend takes her in for a CT scan, where it's discovered that she's had electroshock therapy. She denies it. Michael then finds more evidence that something is terribly wrong with the woman he thought he knew.

There are parts of "Deadly Messages" that will have you on the edge of your seat, and the suspense really builds. Beller, who seems to be retired now, is a likable actress capable of big histrionics, which were needed for this film.

Brandon has less to do, and his part isn't the most sympathetic, but he comes off fine. Dennis Franz is guess what, playing a police detective in this, and it's a very similar character to NYPD Blue's Andy.

Well above average - I love suspense movies; I wish more TV movies were like this one.

Formula movie and you can pretty much figure the plot and who is who from the beginning. However it is well acted and with out an excess of gore.

After forgetting her key and not being able to get her room mate to answer the door of a third story apartment, Laura Daniels is gutsy enough to use the fire escape. You guessed it she witnesses a murder. Naturally with out clues the police do not believe her. Things start to snow ball as Laura plays with a Quiji board, and figures out she is being stalked. The whole thing would be over in 15 minutes if anyone would believe her. And there are plenty of `Stay in the Car' type scenes. The only thing I guessed wrong was there were no scenes with jumpy cats. Hopefully it will one day come out on DVD.

Deadly Messages, originally titled Ouija, was a made for TV movie which aired in 1985 on ABC

Cindy (Sherri Stoner, appropriately named for the part) erotically strokes the Ouija Board. Sprouting mumbo-jumbo about contacting the dead.

Formula movie and you can pretty much figure the plot and who is who from the beginning. However, it is well acted and without an excess of gore.

After forgetting her key, Laura Daniels( Kathleen Beller) and not being able to get her roommate Cindy to answer the door (Phone) of a third story apartment, Laura Daniels is gutsy enough to use the fire escape. You guessed it she witnesses a murder. Naturally without clues the police do not believe her. Things start to snow ball as Laura plays with a Ouija Board, and figures out she is being stalked. The whole thing would be over in 15 minutes if anyone would believe her. And there are plenty of 'Stay in the Car' type scenes. The only thing I guessed wrong was there were no scenes with jumpy cats.

Are we sure this is the end? Is anybody there?