Linbeymusol
Wonderful character development!
Breakinger
A Brilliant Conflict
FirstWitch
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Ella-May O'Brien
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
guilfisher-1
Well, let me say, I didn't know what to expect. I thought, well, Rob Lowe's in it so it can't be that bad. WRONG! Even his presence didn't save this loser. Sad to say the story line was inevitable and the conclusion not a surprise. I won't bore you with the details as I was bored with this film. Was this comedy? Camp? For real? Certainly it couldn't be taken seriously. Written by Patrik and Jasper Ersgard and directed by Jasper Ersgard, I found the film too dark in color and visibility, in some cases losing what was on the screen. You had to strain your eyes to watch this and strain your intelligence to believe it. As to the cast - Rob Lowe was terrible. Most of the film he's walking into one trap after another as blind as a bat. As an architect, he sure was missing some marbles. The scene when the slut comes after him was just downright horrible. How could he not know she was hot to trot on him. And how come he just didn't tell her to get lost? She was so obvious. He should have shut the door in her face. But then I guess we wouldn't have any more movie, would we? Rob, you can do better than this. James Belushi, another actor I respect, did bring some level of reality to his role and even made his character fun. I was rooting for him. Distinguished Dean Stockwell, whom I've liked since ANCHORS AWEIGH days as a child actor was wasted in this and gave his best. It's just great to watch him work, even in clinkers like this. Who can forget his better works like BOY WITH GREEN HAIR, GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT, GREEN YEARS, SONS AND LOVERS, COMPULSION and LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. What a body of work that was. And to see him do this - it's embarrassing. Then there's Dana Wheeler Nicholson in a lack luster performance looking older than Rob as his wife. And let's not forget Alex Meneses in about the worst performance of the year as the slut. So obvious and not that attractive, she was laughable the way she climbed all over our hero. And poor Rob kept saying no as he fondled her and pleaded. Please! Special mention to my friend Richard Partlow as the detective and also one of the Foley Artists. Way to go, Rick! 3 stars for Belushi, Partlow and Stockwell.
movieman_kev
Poor Walter Woods (Rob Lowe) is having a horrible few days. He's almost run off the road by a truck driver. his hole in the wall apartment room has rats, his millionaire employer doesn't like his architect proposals, and there's a dead hooker in his bed among other things. Yup, Walter has seen better days, that's for sure. One of the writers, Patrik Ersgard, felt the need to act in the film as well and his character is pretty unbearable. But I guess he does fit in with the rest of the characters here, as the film practically reeks of awfulness. With the only tolerable one in the whole movie being Dean Stockwell, a man who should be above this kind of garbage.My Grade: D- Where I saw it: Showtime Extreme
Pepper Anne
"Living in Peril," is a low-budget thriller about an architect (Rob Lowe as wimpy "Walter Woods") who moves to Los Angeles and is terrorized by a psychopath whom he has yet to discover the identity of or the motive for. There is not much to the story, and the plot treads on sometimes routine scare tactics.However, despite having almost no discernibly gripping, or even remotely entertaining plot, this started out as a pretty funny movie, thanks to the confrontations between Woods and his cynical landlord, William, played wonderfully by Dean Stockwell. William thinks Woods is an idiot every time he comes knocking on his door to complain about one thing or another, and its usually about some kind of rat infestation. Nonetheless, many of Woods' bizarre accusations and callings often baffle William, who is sometimes speechless. Woods once pounds on William's door and asks, "did you move my furniture around in my apartment?" and Stockwell, as William, does not even know what to say at such a moronic suggestion. "Who are you?" he replies with almost a homicidal twitch. Walter's German friend, an aspiring stand up comedian, but sometimes absent minded (although well-meaning) guy adds more humor to the story as does Walter's failed attempts at trying to please his employer, usually because something goes wrong in his apartment, thanks to a psychopathic stalker trying to drive him insane.Then, kind of like the humor in "From the Hip" (an early Judd Nelson comedy/drama) which abruptly shifts into dark drama gear, this movie does the same, shedding its comedic atmosphere (which might have been just enough to contain you despite a weak plot) for the the "thriller" ending, which was a huge disappointment. The killer's motives, once he reveals them as most adversaries do by the end of the film, are completely ridiculous, and almost require a second take to remember who he is talking about in the first place. Unfortunately, the finale is utterly stupid.I would only half recommend this film, as it starts out in a pretty hilarious fashion, but ultimately, once the filmmakers try to entice you with conflict and climax, fail miserably.
rbrb
This film was recently shown on Cable and the opening 5 minutes is terrific....the music is compelling...setting the scene for a person about to be trapped in a series of perilous incidents...... (anyone who has had one of those days when everything goes wrong can identity with this film!!!) I found at times there were elements of Hitchcock-like suspense with an excellent performance by the lead actor. There are superb performances by the actors playing the apartment manager, the wife, the prostitute and the performance by the german neighbour is compellingly good. I was absorbed by the whole movie with its first rate direction and script. It is a black comedy....comedy drama...and the only dissappointment is the actor playing the part of Harrison...who seems half-hearted throughout.......deduct 2 marks for that but its still an 8 out of 10. rbrb.