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The Rain Killer
USA 1990
produced by Rodman Flender, Ken Stein (executive) for Califilm
directed by Ken Stein
starring Ray Sharkey, David Beecroft, Tania Coleridge, Michael Chiklis, Bill LaVallee, Woody Brown, Gray Daniels, Kathleen Klein, Marlena Giovi, Roger Michelson, Ellen Goffin, Robert Miano, Yvonne Winter, Herb Kay, Maria Ford, Kirsten Ashley, Channing Chase, Janme Ralston, John David Conti, David Giella, Mike Elliott, Michael Becker, Sharon Fine, Earl Finn, Lawrence Mandley
written by Ray Cunneff, music by Terry Plumeri
review by Mike Haberfelner
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A psychokiller is killing members of a certain upper class drug rehab
program in the rain, and the two men assigned to stop him, down-to-earth
cop Capra (Ray Sharkey) and snooty FBI-agent Dalton (David Beecroft)
positively hate each other. Thing is, Dalton's ex-wife Adele (Tania
Coleridge), whom he still loves but who can't stand him anymore, is also
participating in the rehab program - and by now it is dead easy to guess
who the killer is, though the movie still tries to keep his identity
shrouded in mystery. Anyways, Adele's hatred for her ex goes so far that
she starts an affair with Capra - which Dalton of course finds out. Then a
man, Rosewall (Woody Brown), accidently kills a prostitute (Maria Ford),
and everybody thinks its a good idea to pin the other killings on him
(though it eludes me why) - but somehow, his lawyer gets him out on bail. Another
rainy night: Adele's place is heavily guarded, but working on the case,
it's no problem for Dalton to slip in and kill her. Somehow, he lures
Rosewall to the place as well, makes sure he leaves his prints on the
crimescene, then shoots him dead. Now that looks like a case solved, but
Capra has second thoughts, and eventually he figures out the truth and
manages to kill Dalton in the final shootout. Rather weak
serialkiller movie that comes across way too constructed to remain
believable while it gives away the identity of the real killer way too
soon - unintentionally, I suppose - and features way too many scenes that
make no sense after that. But that the film is a failure is not only down
to its script, it is accompanied by a weak, atmosphere- and suspense-free,
and esentially boring direction and less than special acting by all of the
involved. In all, a film you really needn't watch.
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