Rish Outfield's reviews
A Canadian production (consider yourself warned), Visiting Hours starred Lee Grant as a feminist talk show host--one of those women who doesn't need your help, doesn't need his help, doesn't need any man's help--who is singled out by a real psycho, played by a fatter, intenser Michael Ironside than we know nowadays. After initially attacking her, most of the film takes place in a hospital, where he makes several attempts on her life, coming back again and again, each time with a new plan. It looked like a Made-For-TV movie, and felt like one for the most part, but ended up being a pretty cool flick by the end. It wasn't one of my favorites, but it could've been worse.
Ironside, who got first billing, was funking nuts, but he was also a quick, smart killer who was interesting to watch. Lee Grant was tough, as mentioned, and like a James Cameron heroine, stands up for herself quite well in the end. Linda Purl--didn't she marry Fonzie?--plays the caring nurse that takes a personal interest in Grant's case, and her confrontation with the killer was nice and scary. You'd think I'd want Ironside to win, too, but even though I respected him for his innovation, he was thoroughly despicable. Cool. Unfortunately, the Great William Shatner was wasted in this picture. He plays the supportive boyfriend, appearing in different outfits from time to time, repeating the same dialogue ("It's going to be...alright. Itellyou, things...will be...fine."). Anyone could have played the part, and he left no impression whatsoever.
The tone of the film was very similar to Halloween 2, but also The Terminator, in that the relentless killer returns again and again to kill his target and seems unstoppable. It moved pretty slow at first, even dipping into the regions of dullness, but the last twenty-five minutes or so were really great. The final chase between hunter and hunted was tense and exciting.
Best Scare: The killer pops out from under someone's couch at one point.
I'd Recommend It To: Stalker fans sick of the usual good, gory stuff.