Schatten des Todes (1988)

Schatten des Todes: Directed by Robert Kirk. With Deborah Foreman, Clayton Rohner, Lyle Alzado, Anthony Perkins. A prison riot breaks out at the moment of a serial murderer’s execution by electrocution, 18 months later, a team of filmmakers converge on the prison to film a women-in-prison exploitation flick.

“u0026quot;Destroyeru0026quot; is a mildly entertaining, routinely written B horror picture thatu0026#39;s not without its pleasures. As it opens, a serial murderer named Ivan Moser (football great Lyle Alzado) is about to be executed for his crimes. However, just as heu0026#39;s being electrocuted, a prison riot erupts, resulting in the deaths of several guards and many inmates (not that we ever get to see this). Since Mosersu0026#39; body is never found, he becomes a legend, and 18 months later the filmmakers behind an exploitation picture are using his old prison as a shooting location. Malone (the always lovely and always adorable Deborah Foreman) is a stuntwoman on the show, whou0026#39;s involved with screenwriter Harris (Clayton Rohner), and Robert Edwards (Anthony Perkins) is the sarcastic director of this movie-within-the-movie. Wouldnu0026#39;t you know it: people start getting killed in brutal ways.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe only real inspired touch lies in the casting of massive NFL lineman Alzado, and it does look like heu0026#39;s having a good time playing a psycho. u0026quot;Destroyeru0026quot; only really comes to life when heu0026#39;s on screen, and some viewers may feel that he isnu0026#39;t on screen enough. Of course, Foreman (re-united with Rohner after 1986su0026#39; u0026quot;April Foolsu0026#39; Dayu0026quot;) is always great value, as is Perkins, who is able to play his part with a decent amount of wit. Other than our four principals, the supporting cast is comprised of mostly nondescript no-names. Some of you out there might be amused by comedy relief character u0026quot;Rewireu0026quot; (actor / writer Jim Turner, u0026#39;Arli$$u0026#39;), but this viewer simply found him annoying. At the very least, this movie has just enough action, just enough gore, and just enough atmosphere to make it reasonable but forgettable entertainment. Alzado, Foreman, and Perkins boost the rating by a point.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSix out of 10.”