Das mörderische Paradies (1985)

Das mörderische Paradies: Directed by Phillip Borsos. With Kurt Russell, Mariel Hemingway, Richard Jordan, Richard Masur. When a teenager is shot at the beach, a journalist from The Miami Journal is sent to cover the story. He’s called by the murderer and told there’ll be four more.

“Based on the John Katzenbach story u0026quot;In the Heat of the Summeru0026quot;, this Florida-lensed crime thriller does hold onesu0026#39; attention with its straightforward telling of an interesting tale. Kurt Russell is aces as Malcolm Anderson, a star reporter for the Miami Journal who is contacted by a murderous psychopath (Richard Jordan) who has killed once and who promises that there will be other murders. The killer, who craves the spotlight, decides to use Anderson as his mouthpiece, creating a very uneasy u0026quot;collaborationu0026quot; between killer and reporter. Things start to really turn South when Anderson starts getting the bulk of the attention, leaving the killer feeling resentful. This is a solid set-up for a movie that ultimately does indeed lose a fair deal of its impact by turning conventional for its final act, but until then itu0026#39;s solidly entertaining, with the performances of Russell and Jordan serving as effective anchors. The give and take between their two characters is compelling stuff, and itu0026#39;s a good thing that Anderson isnu0026#39;t treated as some typically infallible movie hero. The supporting cast is mostly strong; Mariel Hemingway as Andersonu0026#39;s schoolteacher girlfriend Christine is appealing as she always is, but her character has little to do besides look and act concerned and eventually be put into peril. Richard Masur (reunited, along with producers Lawrence Turman and David Foster, with Russell after u0026quot;The Thingu0026quot;) is Andersonu0026#39;s editor, Andy Garcia (in one of his earliest movie roles) and Richard Bradford are the weary detectives on the case, Joe Pantoliano is a photographer, and the almighty movie tough guy William Smith appears briefly as a character supplying critical information. The Miami setting adds a lot of ambiance, especially as the storms start coming up towards the end of the story. Lalo Schifrinu0026#39;s music is also highly effective. Even in light of the clichéd climactic confrontation, there is some enjoyable resonance to u0026quot;The Mean Seasonu0026quot; as it deals with the big issue of journalistic culpability, and the role that the media play in our receipt of the news. An overall grim feel to the presentation, and an atmospheric opening, are also assets in this generally good, if not great, and reasonably convincing movie. Seven out of 10.”