THE RETRIEVER MAY 2, 1989 / PAGE 9

Always on the cutting edge.... of MURDER. (RIGHT) Brian James as Max Jenke is a maniacal serial killer and host of a local T. V. show. (TOP) A detective's (Lance Henriksen) reality becomes so impossible to believe that even his wife (Rita Taggart) doubts his sanity in Horror Show. Horror Scandel lurks in Dark Junior media critic ravages silver screens Joab Jackson tmare on Elm Street. This time the various bodily appendages of McCar- Retriever staff writer cleaver handler's name is Max Jenke (Brion James). Max, veteran of 116 thy's family. One might think that college stu- killings, has it in for police detective It turns out that - get this - evil is a dents a la junior media critics have Lucas McCarthy (Lance Henriksen) form of physical energy, like electri- nothing better to do all week than to because Lucas was the one who city and, (though you'll probably need sit around watching press screenings caught Max and put him behind advanced degrees in both quantum of new movies at an ad agency's office, bars. physics and modern ethics to unders- while scarfing on complimentary tand this theory) since Max is pure pizza and bellyaching about quality of Max is sentenced- to the electric evil, he is also, like you know, pure today's movies. If you were to think chair and McCarthy goes to the exe- energy. The only way to kill him is to something like that last week, you cution to ease his own mind. McCar- outjuice him by hooking him up to a would be more of a prophet than a thy has been having nightmares about main power line. cynic. Here is a summary of what I Max returning and will be glad to see A chase scene ensues, more people Scandal (premieres May 5th): Scart- saw, and'what you might want to see, this human butcher sizzle. The chair are dismembered gruesomely, scary dallavishly portrays England's notor- and not see, at your local movie doesn't really kill Max, though, it justy music plays and so on. Max and ious , one of the events house. kind of catapults him into, you know, McCarthy end up in a power plant, that contributed to the eventual The Horror Show (area theaters,): like another plane of existence. This and McCarthy sizzles Max with the downfall of England's conservative Here's another bad slasher movie, plane of existence is perfect for tortur- main power wire, but still doesn't kill party. 17-year-old show girl Christine composed of part Dirty Harry, part ing detective McCarthy with many him, so McCarthy shoots him Keeler ( Kilmer) Ghostbusters and a whole lot of Nigh- nightmares, as well as slashing off instead. becomes involved with man-about- town Dr. (). Christine, along with fellow show-girl Mandy Rice Davies (Bridget Fonda) move in with Dr. Ward. Dr. Ward's fascination with Chris- tine is purely voyeuristic; he molds her into his image of a perfect consort, teaching her social graces and how to whodunit must be an embarrassing dress, and having her meet men of film for the movie industry. Half the high standing. She becomes involved critics walked out during the press with one such man, Secretary of State screening. The Blum Group (Baltimo- for War, (Ian re's main movie promotion agency) McKellen). Another man she was see- definitely tried to push this one under ing was, ironically enough, Eugene the rug ~ no photos or press kits were Ivanov (Jeroen Krabbe) whom was given out. The script, for the most part thought by British Intelligence to be a is hackneyed, and the flow of events Soviet spy. was wildly unpredictable. Editing is Later, when rejected by Dr. Ward, terrible and the production is sloppy. Christine spills her story to the press. The plot is simple: Bobo the insane Rumors and innuendos about Prof- clown goes on a rampage to violently umo and Keeler are published, caus- kill all the women who work at a ing much controversy and eventually telephone sex service. Lt. Frank Mey- bringing Stephen Ward up to trial, ers, brilliantly played by Tracey Wal- who is accused of living on the earn- ter, Lt. McDonald (Silvana Gal- ings of prostitutes. If this doesn't lardo), Detective Langella (Divine, in make complete sense, you must rem- his last screen appearence) and ironi- ember the whole scandal was a bit 1 cally (see the film) enough, photogra- hazy in the first place. pher Kevin (Cameron Dye) all search This film does a fine job of retelling to find Bobo. this incredibly tangled web of events. Strange thing, though, I enjoyed John Hurt is especially successful at this movie. Yes the scenes were cliche, portraying Dr. Stephen Ward, a char- but I had no idea which cliche they acter that can be both slimy and would pull out next. It was almost fatherly. There are a few unnecessary entirely unpredictable, and on that, scenes (i.e. Dr. Ward, an intellectual, admittedly perverse basis, it worked. trying "pot" for the first time is a Remarkably, one really didn't know cheap aim for laughs), and a few who the killer was until the last five flirtations with sexism and racism are minutes. Also some fascinating side played out, but for the most part it is a characters are developed, such as the enjoyable movie. obnoxious Lt. Frank Meyers, and the Bridget Fonda [left] as Mandy Rice-Davies and Joanne Whalley as in Scandel sleazy hotel manager (Paul Bartel). Out of the Dark (premieres May 5th): This is a terrible movie, but if your Entropy incognito. This slasher/ into the trash aesthetic you'll love it. ATTENTION: All Clubs and Organizations Registration Forms for the 1989-90 academic year are now available in UC Room 206 or check in your club mailboxes. ALL clubs MUST re-register mneclofh SURF SHOP for next year!!! "We Bring the Beach to You!" Annapolis Columbia Owings Mills 'Towson (301)266-5097 (301)730-2344 (301)363-7873 (301)583-5635 Cranberry Mall Tysons Corner Center, VA Springfield Mall, VA For more info, call x3462. (Westminster) (703)734-1723 (703)971-8667 (301) 848-3229