Stalker

Before I explain why I removed 3 stars I will say this is a good film . it just could have been better with a few minor changes. The Real Lead Anna Brecon did a fantastic job as did most everyone else I can recommend this on a rainy or foggy night. Did the lead Character tell anyone she had a PA coming to help her ? Did Linda The PA introduce herself to he writer ? Just Say Personal Assistant because Not everyone knows what a PA is . If my 2 questions would have been answered in that 4 minutes that were edited from the version I saw sorry but I had to take a star for that hole in the set up .I didn't remove a star for the fact that the film makers chose to push the less important character Linda as the Lead in the film when she isn't. The Actress playing Linda isn't the better actress of the 2 and she hasn't learned to speak her lines Clearly. When the 1st human was killed the killer mumbles the second half of the lines but lucky for the audience later we hear that Full line from a recording Where Surprise the lines were clearly spoken otherwise we would have no idea what was said and it's important to the plot . But I didn't remove a star for that .The film loses a second star for the movie cover because it gives too much away .It lost a 3rd star for allowing the villain to too quickly & too easily without justification or explanation bully the lead character into submission when saying "The servants have to leave they annoy me ." Yes the actress who you gave 1st billing Linda Overacts If she usually does a lot of stage acting and didn't adjust herself to the small screen that could explain that. Otherwise a well written ,directed and acted film .

STALKER is the Martin Kemp-directed remake of the notorious video nasty THE HOUSE ON STRAW HILL, a sordid tale of depravity and murder that came out in the mid-'70s. Thankfully enough has been changed in this story to make it an effective shocker in its own right, one that even fans of the original film will find has surprises in store.

Truth be told, I quite liked this movie. It's no classic but it is a solid little thriller and, given it's a low budget British B-movie, the quality is a lot better than you'd expect. The dull Anna Brecon stars as a mousy writer who goes off to live in a remote country cottage to work on her new novel, only to fall foul of a psychopath.

STALKER benefits from effective direction, some shocking moments of violence, and decent performances from the supporting cast. Best of all is Jane March (COLOUR OF NIGHT) playing the secretary and having a ball with the role. Dependable character actors like Billy Murray and Colin Salmon turn up and are most welcome, and there's even a minor part for Linda Hayden, who of course starred in the original film. STALKER is a film that kept me interested throughout, and that's a rare enough thing for a low budget film these days.

One reviewer claims this isn't a horror film then seeks to justify that comment by saying there's very little gore. Dear me, when did good horror require gore? If done with a bit of style, atmosphere, decent acting and a proper understanding of and respect for the genre, then it's not needed at all. The interesting thing is that the writer and director is none other than Martin Kemp. The man has gone from child actor to pop start to cinematic gangster to soap star to music revivalist to screenwriter and director...and like everything else he's done, he's been successful! Interesting too that he would know much about the infamous Hose on Straw Hill/Expose film of the mid-70s. Perhaps other reviewers would question that films horror veracity too? Here Kemp remakes with a considerable twist (albeit a somewhat clichéd one) and even brings back Linda Hayden who played a younger, saucier character back in the day. From the original film to Hammer Dracula to the awesome 'Blood On Satan's Claw', Linda is always a welcome contributor. Convincing performances from Jane March and Billy 'The Bill' Murray also help and it's mice to see the excellent Colin Salmon, though he seems less comfortable. In short, a psycho thriller type horror film that isn't particularly original but successfully evokes the feel of mid-70s independent British horror. I hope that Kemp makes more of these.

A question I ask rhetorically. An interesting 70s shocker/video nasty with a unique cast, Udo Kier, Linda Hayden and Fiona Richmond, and loaded with rape, softcore sex, simulated masturbation and slashing. Did it need an updated remake? Not to mention I Spit On Your Grave, Mothers Day, House on Sorority Row, Black Christmas and many more low-budget slashers shot in the 70s and 80s that producers decided to remake in watered down versions for no reason.

What I don't understand is why Linda Hayden would trash this film and then appear in the remake.

First of all everyone should know this is not anything even close to what you would expect from a film named "Stalker". It involves a writer under pressure for her second book, her first was a #1 Bestseller so people were eager to see what's next. The author, rumored to have had a recent breakdown, has also had a very tragic childhood. We are given flashbacks from what appears to be her childhood but it all doesn't make full sense until near end. It is a short film at around 70 minutes and I was getting kind of bored around mid point, but then the unveiling of the classic twist which we have seen many times before. So all in all it was a decent effort but was nothing to run out & try to track down or pay to view for that matter. It was an average movie & I had no problem spending some time watching it. I'm not really sure how to rate it mainly due to it's lack of originality. I'll say 5-6/10. However this is not a horror movie at all it has been MISLABELED there is very little gore & very very little tension till the final minutes. So if you're looking for that as I was, you will be sadly disappointed.