Visiting Hours
Visiting Hours
Visiting Hours
Directed by:
Jean-Claude LordScreenplay:
Brian TaggertCinematography:
René VerzierComposer:
Jonathan GoldsmithCast:
Michael Ironside, Lee Grant, Linda Purl, William Shatner, Lenore Zann, Kathleen Fee, Harvey Atkin, Lorena Gale, Neil Affleck, Charles Dennis, Ron Robbins (more)Plots(1)
Deborah Ballin is a controversial middle-aged TV journalist, who is campaigning on air on behalf of a battered woman who murdered her abusive husband, claiming justifiable defence against the so-called victim. But her outspoken views championing women's rights incense one of the studio's cleaning staff, closet homicidal psycho (and misogynist) Colt Hawker whose deep seated despising all all things female occurred from seeing his Mother throwing boiling oil in the face of his abusive Father when he was a small child (and who's M.O. is to photograph victims he stabs as they're dying). So much so that he decides there and then to shut her up... Permanently! Managing to beat her home, he soon dispatches her maid Francine, before turning his rage onto her as she come home (greeting her in only wearing her jewellery and make-up). Despite the brutal injuries he lashes out on her, she manages to survive and is rushed off to hospital. But undaunted he catches up to her in hospital and disguised as a florist... he enter the building to continue his mission to finish her off... along with anyone else who gets under his skin. (Final Cut Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (1)
Visiting Hours is quite an average slasher movie, which can be proud of perhaps two peculiarities: Firstly, we already know who the killer is right from the start (the talented actor Michael Ironside was perfectly cast), and although his motivation to kill, as we gradually learn, is a real cliché, his character is entertaining, and mischievous audiences can root for him to some extent. Secondly, William Shatner, who was celebrating his success with the second Star Trek movie the same year, appears in one of the more forgettable supporting roles, apparently, he had talked himself into taking a tiny part in a Canadian horror thriller as an interesting diversion. I would probably not even call the relatively mild Visiting Hours a pure-blooded horror movie, and its presence on the "video nasties" list is almost incomprehensible, but of course, the idea of a psychopath murdering successful and emancipated women certainly turned the stomachs of many British censors.
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