Link (1986)

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Link, a British horror film starring Terence Stamp, Elisabeth Shue, two chimps and an orangutan. The Link of the title is the orangutan, though we are asked to believe he is a chimp, and he's getting on a bit and his master, Dr. Steven Phillip (Stamp), is ready to send him of to the primate farm in the sky. Only Link is a smart cookie, he likes a smoke, and he likes to menace Jane Chase (Shue) who is working for peanuts as Steven's housekeeper so as to get experience from the good doctor. So, when Steven vanishes half way through the movie, Jane is left to her own devices with mad primate and good primate. But wait, a clumsy set-up sees her joined by some pals late in the day, the cannon fodder has arrived, hooray! Ludicrous and lacking genuine suspense, while the primates out act their human counterparts. But boy are those primates trained brilliantly, especially the expressive Link (Locke). 3/10

An American student takes a summer job at a doctors cliff seaside house where he keeps apes, however, she finds herself trapped and in danger when one of the apes due for destruction turns bad.A young Elisabeth Shue as Jane Chase effectively carries the film along with the lead chimp Imp (Jed) and antagonist killer ape Link, played by Locke an Orangutan (dyed black). Terence Stamp's screen time is limited, however, he leaves as lasting impression as the cavalier Dr. Steven Phillip.The cliff-side house setting and locations give the film a distinctive atmosphere. Director Richard Franklin delivers plenty of ape action capturing both their intelligence and strength. There's a nice touch with an early intuitive computer which allows further communication between the apes and their human counterparts. This comes into play injecting anxiety into the closing act. The blood is limited and the body count is low. Franklin's focus is on Link as a thriller rather than a horror.Lapses in continuity (possibly due to cut scenes or editing) tarnishes some of Shue's reactions. The soundtrack is fitting but surprisingly Jerry Goldsmiths Gremiln-like score mars the atmosphere, dampening the much needed tension and suspense.What's impressive unintentionally or not is the ambiguity of writers Lee David Zlotoff, Tom Ackermann and Everett De Roche's offering, as it raise some questions around Links history, and the demise of Phillip and Imp's possible role. In addition, the ending has a satisfying subtle eerie visual twist that can be easily missed. Also to Franklin's credit the apes do their own performances, there doesn't appear to be any people in suits and made in 1986 it thankfully predates C.G.I. Overall Link is an effective enough thriller, recommended certainly for the apes and Shue's performance.

Director Richard Franklin is a bit of a Hitchcock borrower. He wrote and directed the sequel to Psycho, wrote and directed the Hitchcockian Road Games, and here he tries out a Hitchcock style thriller about a lone woman trapped in a maze-like mansion with danger round every corner. The thing which destroys this movie is that the danger in question is supplied by some scientifically tampered monkeys who live in the house, under the observation of scientist Terence Stamp.Monkeys? I hear you cry! Yes, monkeys! A bunch of psychotic chimpanzees are the principle bad guys in this film. At this point, you suddenly stop wondering what delightful Hitchcockian surprises director Franklin has up his sleeve, and you begin to try hard not to let laughter seize you. How can the film possibly hope to succeed with such an inane and insane plot? How can it hope to scare you witless with such cute and cuddly animals in the role of the villains? How can a talented director and stars be working on such a ludcrous project as this?The truth of the matter is that Link is a misjudgement by all concerned. It is Franklin's worst film, Shue's most embarrassing and Stamp's laziest ever performance. Still, at least the monkeys look cute and cuddly!

I loved the film Link. It's one of my favorite suspense films. I love it because of it's twists and turns. Plus because of it's great and amazing music score by Jerry Goldsmith. I also like Chimpanzees. I recommend it because it's one of my all time favorite suspense/horror films plus I own it and have seen it hundreds of times. I give it 2 thumbs up for acting and surprises along the way.