Perfect Prey (1998)

Memorable, crazy movie

Absolutely the worst movie.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I love the confrontation of the female detective with the male detectives formerly on the case but got no clue.They tried to discourage her but she was determined to succeed. I love her style. she decided to take the bull by the horn when there was no help forth coming from detectives who were earlier on the case. From what may be considered by the ordinary eye as an insignificant piece of evidence in one of the last crime scene,she was able to make an in road into a case that was for other detectives an impenetrable virgin forest.A piece of doll became the master key that opened that blind alley that other detectives could not see.Who says persistence does not pay.It is interesting to note that the moment she had that close shave with the suspect, her sharp instincts told her that was her man. She maintained her cool and showed no excitement. The female dick for me was the star in the movie.The criminal thought he was a perfect criminal but he met a perfect Detective whose eyes were sharper than an eagle's. Sumary: A good crime series movie,that succeeded in exposing some of the very bad lukewarm attitude of the police in times when they should rise up to the challenges of duty calls.It is also informative in the sense that people should try and look beyond what they see and people they want to tag along with.The female folk should heed this warning as they are more vulnerable.

For surly he walks away with this and his portrait of a demented serial killer. This is unusual as Keith is always the victim, ala OFFICER AND GENTLEMEN. He was excellent. Kelly McGillis I usually like but felt there was a monotone level of work in this. Her face never showed any emotion except fear. Does she ever enjoy anything? I liked her in WITNESS and TOP GUN where she at least had interesting moments. But wasted in this. I guess we're supposed to see she's a tough detective and determined to catch her prey. Aging Bruce Dern plays a small role of a detective. Dern would have been more interesting if he had ended up the killer as he plays strange roles better. D W Moffett (what does the D stand for?) played another detective and love interest to Kelly. I remember him in AN EARLY FROST as the love interest to Aiden Quinn. A good looking guy too. But give the laurels to Keith for a wonderful job. And to all those lovely ladies he managed to charm into his den. Maybe sometime we could see a serial killer who takes all the beautiful boys and torments them. It would be different as most of the time it's always the women that get chosen.

(There are Spoilers) Having been kidnapped and abused some ten years ago when she attended Texas State University Texas Ranger criminal behavior expert Audrey MacLean, Kelly McGillis, had become the top state authority in what makes serial killers and kidnappers tick. Called to instigate a series of kidnap/murders in and around the Huston area Audery is spooked by how the killer, or killers, abducted and murdered his or their victims. It was very much like what happened to her some ten years ago when she was a med student at Texas U.The movie "Perfect Pray" has the psycho serial/killer painting his lips in ruby red lipstick after he kidnaps and torture his victims and then suffocates them with a plastic bag tied around their heads. Were not kept from knowing who this nut-case is since we're exposed to him almost as soon as the movie starts so there's no suspenses that he's the creepy and beady eyed antique dealer Daniel T. Wallace, David Keith. Wallace is a real sicko in his actions even for a serial killer with him torturing his terrified victims to the point were death is almost a relief and blessing to them.There's also a sub-plot in the movie involving convicted serial killer Harlan Evens, Clyton Murray, who is supposed to be he person who kidnapped Audery some ten years ago and even confessed to the crime. When It soon becomes obvious that Evens was not the person who kidnapped Audery, the weird psycho just took credit for it, it become a central part of the story why she didn't bring that out on his trial. Evens in fact did murder six other women and at the same time allowed the real kidnapper and serial killer to be free and eventually murder some half dozen people.Wallace, who later turned to out be former Texas U student Dwayne Alan Clay, seems to be at war with women who are well educated and successful in their field of employment like Audery is and takes out his frustrations on them. H does that by kidnapping torturing and brutally murdering them. The fact that Audery, his first victim, got away from him makes it more important in him kidnapping and killing her tying all the loose ends together in his insane war against humanity.We also get an insight into what is driving the crazed Clay and that has to do with his treatment as a little boy, the fact of his obsession with lipstick is a good clue, by his abusive and drug addict mother. Clay murdered her when he was just ten years old by burning her and the house down. Clay was also obsessed with his late grandma's doll collection. Murdereing woman who resembled the dolls laying them out after he murdered them like a doll on display like at his antique stand at the county fair. Audrey seem to be so traumatized by her abduction and treatment by Clay ten years ago that later when she came face to face with the deranged lunatic she didn't at all, even though he did, recognize him.The ending was a bit overdone with the emotionally crippled Audery turning into a female "Dirty Harry", or "Dirty Harriet". Taking on the crazed and homicidal Clay one on on on his home turf, his late grandma's doll house, and blasting him to pieces before the calvary,in the form of the Huston PD, came to her rescue.

For those that think "Perfect Prey" was better cinema than "Witness" this movie is the "perfect fare" for them. Well acted, the grizzled Kelly McGillis does take her role seriously, and for that we thank her. D.W. Moffett gives a splendid performance, but the true star of the show is David Keith. Never have I seen an actor take such demented delight in smearing red lipstick all over his characters sick, depraved lips. The storyline is decent, with an ending that borrows liberally from "Silence of the Lambs." Great cinema for that Saturday evening when Mom has to wait up for the teen that is out for the night with the family car. "Perfect Prey" is intriguing enough to keep the mind off worry, yet mindless enough that a viewer doesn't have to think as the clock nears one in the morning. For those that love a good storyline that offers a little more bang for the buck, try "Witness." Definitely Kelly McGillis at her finest, if only for the classic scene with a younger and sturdier Harrison Ford where they dance alone in an Amish country barn, a scene where McGillis truly sizzles and smolders with implied sexuality and Amish girl heat.