Link

Critics Consensus

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Link Photos

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Movie Info

Richard Franklin directed this horror film that plays like Jane Goodall in Gaslight. Elisabeth Shue is Jane Chase, a graduate student in zoology who volunteers to help Dr. Steven Phillip (Terence Stamp), a professor at the university, with his animal studies. Arriving at his mansion, she is greeted by Link, a orangutan dressed in a monkey suit. Jane gets to know Link and Dr. Phillip's other chimp charges, Imp and Voodoo. One day Dr. Phillip goes to town, supposedly to sell Voodoo, but instead, Voodoo is found dead at the mansion. Link then proceeds to ignore Jane's commands and starts pushing Imp around. When Dr. Phillip's friend Bailey (Kevin Lloyd) arrives to take Voodoo away, Link becomes aggressive and chases Bailey away from the mansion. Jane later realizes Link is holding her prisoner in the mansion, not allowing her through the door and keeping the telephone away from her. Link is now out for blood, and the blood belongs to Jane.

Rating:

R (adult situations/language, nudity, violence)
Genre:

Art House & International, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Richard Franklin
Written By:

Everett De Roche
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1986 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Aug 21, 2001
Runtime:

103 minutes
Studio:

HBO Video

Cast

Terence Stamp
as Dr. Steven Phillip

Elisabeth Shue
as Jane Chase

Steven Pinner
as David

Richard Garnett
as Dennis

David O'Hara
as Tom

Kevin Lloyd
as Bailey

Jed
as Imp

Locke
as Link

Carrie
as Voodoo

Joe Belcher
as Taxi Driver

Geoffrey Beevers
as Mr. Miller

Linus Roache
as Uncredited

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Critic Reviews for Link

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (1) | DVD (2)

Mike Malloy's camera abets by offering, at appropriate moments, an ape's-eye view of the world.

May 21, 2003 | Full Review…

Walter Goodman
New York Times
Top Critic
Don't miss the scene where Link apes (ouch; sorry) James Cagney in the fiery finale from White Heat.

Jun 1, 2019 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Given Hollywood's sketchy record with monkey movies, Link compares relatively well and rates as moderately successful.

Nov 5, 2003 | Rating: 64/100

Ryan Cracknell
Apollo Guide

View All Critic Reviews (8)

Audience Reviews for Link

Jun 25, 2011

Unfortunately it's never as creepy as the poster, but it does come close. Link sees Elisabeth Shue take a job minding Stamp's cottage where 3 apes live. An elderly domineering female, a youngling hat can communicate via a computer, and an old geezer dressed as a butler. The latter, known as Link, soon becomes a bit obsessed with his new female house guest. Mysterious goings on soon give way to extended chase scenes. It gets a bit tiresome as you'd think some competent person could take out an orangutan in this situation. The ape that plays Link is incredible. His facial expressions put the human cast to shame, and it looks like he does a lot of his own physical scenes. Enjoyable, and sometimes creepy, it can also drag on in places.

Luke B Super Reviewer
Apr 19, 2007

It's sort of like a prequel to Sunset Blvd. One of the most unusual creature features I've ever seen.

Ken S Super Reviewer