A beautiful but reserved criminal psychiatrist must deal with the obsessive stalking of a dangerous killer in this erotically charged thriller. The film's central tension emerges from the relationship between Dr. Sarah Taylor (Rebecca DeMornay), a highly professional psychologist, and a handsome stranger, Tony Ramirez (Antonio Banderas). After randomly encountering Tony in a supermarket, the normally aloof Sarah lets her guard down and embarks on a passionate sexual affair with the Latino
charmer. Soon afterward, however, Sarah receives a series of disturbing threats from an unknown stalker. Her suspicions immediately fall on Tony, as she realizes how little she knows about her new lover. Her fear throws a shadow over their relationship, and her doubts increase as she learns more about Tony's dangerous past. Director Peter J. Hall maintains a fast pace and attempts to keep audiences guessing, introducing additional suspects from an imprisoned serial killer (Harry Dean Stanton) to the next-door neighbor (Dennis Miller). The characters rarely transcend standard thriller types, and the uneven screenplay does not have a satisfying ending, but the chemistry between DeMornay and Banderas may keep their fans interested along the way. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
[Hall] can't triumph over the problems in the script, or tie up all the loose ends, but his brisk, competent approach does minimize the effects of these flaws.
It's basically a direct-to-video erotic thriller blown up to big-screen proportions, but the stars are attractive and it's passably entertaining -- right up to the ridiculous twist ending.
An adequate psychological thriller on a topical theme -- Repressed Memory Syndrome -- but with little special quality, few frills or thrills, and a relaxed, almost languid exposition.
The film is rife with unexpected revelations and twists but the filmmakers' sly maneuvering, instead of sucking the audience deeper into this psychological thriller, are apt to make them feel manipulated.
I mean it was good enough for a movie to watch on TV in the middle of the night. I did get fooled by the ending, no matter how implausible it was. I kept thinking I had it figured out but then thinking that was too obvious so I'd think something else but I never did get it right.
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