L'inconnue

(1994) Save Me ADULT THRILLER/ MYSTERY

After the success of Basic Instinct. Release one year prior to this one, other companies came out that possess a similar theme.

It centers on businessman and separated, Jim Stevens (Harry Hamlin) entering into a boutique, when as soon as he spots Ellie (Lysette Anthony) wearing a piece of lingerie, he begins to notice her. When her spouse, Oliver (Michael Ironside) shows up and when Jim leaves, Elie and Oliver then leave soon after. But not when Ellie leaves a sticky note behind for him to look at! And upon looking at the footnote, it says "Save me!" hence the title with her phone number written on it for him to call her. We find out Oliver is a professional and licensed shrink and he tries to convince him to not to believe everything she is telling him.

When I first saw this movie, I was a horny little teenager and did not pay too close attention to the movie and set up itself. But after re-watching it again after many years later, the movie is not half as bad, considering it is a little predictable with some twists.

I remember seeing the box cover for 'Save Me' on video store shelves back in the day. It was kind of hard to miss with the featured blonde's boobs popping out. Perhaps that's what kept me from renting this T&A flick because there's no denying that's what it is.

Jim Stevens (Harry Hamlin) is going thru a tough separation and on the spot at work to produce results. Then enters Ellie (Lysette Anthony) a random woman he's attracted to in public. She plants a note within his view with her number as she runs into Oliver (Michael Ironside). Later she tells Jim he's crazy, controlling and she needs his help. She also can't wait to jump Jim's bones.

Have you ever watched a film where a guy can't think with his big brain? Do you know what a red flag from a woman looks like? Taking a page from 'Basic Instinct' & other erotic thrillers someone in a high end car tries to run Jim down multiple times. Takes shots at him. Ironside is usually fun, but doesn't go over the top here. Bill Nunn appears as a police detective while Steve Railsback plays Jim's awful boss.

'Save Me' is the kind of flick I saw thru almost immediately. Maybe you will too. The acting is relatively decent and there's no denying Lysette is a gorgeous woman with an accent, but you'll have to decide if female nudity is enough to sit thru a rehash story with a dumb man & obvious red herrings.

In the wake of "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct" came a bunch of bad to average movies that followed the same basic formula. This is one of those such films. On the surface, this film should have been better. Lysette Anthony, Harry Hamlin, and Michael Ironsides are all great actors, but it's obvious that they weren't giving 100% in this one, and the writing and dialogue didn't give them much to work with. A viewer will easily figure out what's going on long before the main character does.

I've had a crush on Lysette Anthony since seeing her in "Krull" as a child, so, as other reviewers have said, the only redeeming feature of this movie for many people will be seeing her nude for much of it.

Incidentally, if you want to see a better but similar film, try "Dream Lover".

'Save Me' is a well-made psycho-sexual drama typical of the erotic thrillers made in the 90s. The film stars Harry Hamlin as Jim Stevens, a stockbroker whose life is falling apart when his wife's (Olivia Hussey) infidelity drives him into a marital separation he does not want. Stevens' life is also being made miserable by an inept and power-driven boss (Steven Railsback) whose illegal dealings threaten his job.

When by chance he meets Ellie (Lysette Anthony) his whole life changes, but as you will see, not necessarily for the better. He becomes obsessed with her, and she with him, but soon their sexual rendezvous become known to the other man in her life, Oliver (Michael Ironside), a psychiatrist with whom she is living.

The plot thickens when Oliver threatens Stevens and he becomes the target of assaults and attempts on his life by an unknown assailant. The plot twists and turns into a suspenseful surprise ending, and Stevens learns the bitter truth: an English rose of such unequaled beauty and charm has many thorns.

This film is characteristic of many 'B-titles' that have made the rounds on the cable circuit, only this one is also available in a unrated version that you won't likely see unless you rent it. There are some casting shortfalls not unlike 'B-titles' but the story itself is plausible and a good showcase for stunning Lysette Anthony, who easily mesmerizes the viewer into noticing little else in every scene she's in.

One of the curses of the night owl life is that movies like this surface on the cables at 3am, and for whatever reason I must watch the whole bleepin' thing sunrise be-darned.

I saw this on, what else, the Showtime Women's channel. I hate to admit it but I agree with the IMDb reviewer from 1999: the only reason to watch this nonsense from start to finish is to see Lysette Anthony naked. Everything in between is the bonehead self-absorbed stuff that burns through the Gross Domestic Product of whole countries in a Hollywood week. I can not believe people get paid to do this stuff.

Whatever else there is to say about this, it is always good to see Steve Railsback on screen, even when his dialogue is worthy of a 7th grade playwright. This is a really stupid movie, full of zero- quality acting.