The tyranist's thoughts
Remember how back when slashers were just starting to appear the whole sin factor plot device seemed really over used? Well, this movie was made then and not only does it use the sin factor in selection of the victims, but it gleefully admits it.
One night a masked man hauling a toolbox shows up at an apartment complex. It isn't repairs that he's intent on making though. Several victims later he goes awayfor the evening only to return the next night for a little more fun. This time he kidnaps a 15 year old girl in addition to the maiming, killing thing. Her brother vows to find her even if the police won't and the hunt is one.
One truly interesting thing about the movie is that it is somewhat backwards from the traditional slasher plot with the large killing spree happening at the beginning of the movie and then the rest of it following as a mystery with the occasional death thereafter. I kind of liked that and it felt different enough to make the movie interesting. Of course, when the ending did finally come, the movie suddenly felt pretty much just like every other slasher. So much so, in fact, that I've been wondering if I hadn't seen this one before and just didn't remember it.
The acting was mediocre and the script was okay. They tried to force the movie into realism the same way movies like The Last House on the Left and Maniac feel, but it wasn't quite successful and in the end I was able to stomach this one far easier than I can the realist horror flicks. Maybe it was the long seen where the killer watched a young lady masturbate in the bath that pushed this one over into fantasy for me.
Well, I rushed out and rented this one when I saw that Blue Underground (a Bill Lustig pseudo-Anchor Bay spin-off) released it on DVD. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so eager. Still it wasn't that bad and as far as slashers go it is probably a little better than most as far as the plot goes. See it if you like. Or don't. Your life probably won't change.