Visiting Hours
An efficient thriller with an above average cast but debatably a budget beyond the capabilities of the director. It has the appearance of an averagely shoddy TV film, though this often works to the film's advantage - clumsy shots and framing add to the air of degradation and sleaze. Michael Ironside mugs away effectively in the psycho part and Lee Grant and Linda Purl make you wonder why they were never bigger stars then they were. William Shatner is..,well...William Shatner.
It has serious themes, it is no mere expoitation job - psychopathy: nature or nurture, the real world practicality of pacifism in life threatening situations รก la Straw Dogs, racism, machismo and misogyny...a brief toe is dipped into some serious issues without them ever really being developed.
As for its appearance on the "Nasties" list, one can only assume it got caught up in the furore. It isn't graphic, there is hardly any gore, violence is cut away from and the worst assaults are off screen. Ironside is chilling, but it has the feel of a TV film, not of a horror "Nasty".
Not a bad film, worth seeing.
Last edited by Gojirosan; 23rd February 2010 at 02:05 PM.
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