Eyes of a Stranger – 1981, US, 84m. Director: Ken Wiederhorn.
Psycho Cop – 1989, US, 87m. Director: Wallace Potts.
Schizoid – 1980, Israel/US, 89m. Director: David Paulson.
EYES OF A STRANGER (1981) A serial rapist and killer is on the loose in Miami. The discovery of a half-naked victim in a mangrove puts the female population on edge, as do the obscene phone calls the murderer places in order to torment his prey. Local reporter Jane Harris (Lauren Tewes) becomes embroiled in the case, especially when she begins to suspect her demented neighbor, Stanley Herbert (John DiSanti), might be the culprit. And she’s right—after dumping a victim on the beach, Stanley slashes the throats of two witnesses. Jane’s sleuthing gets the best of her when Stanley finds out her identity and goes after her blind and deaf sister (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Eyes of a Stranger wants to be an elegant Brain De Palma-esque thriller but at its core it’s a seedy low-budget slasher—and it works quite well. The filmmakers opted more for suspense than outright gore (there is a gruesome decapitation courtesy of Tom Savini), especially during the intense climax. A serviceable little shocker with good acting and slick direction from Ken Wiederhorn (Shock Waves). B (Currently not available.)
PSYCHO COP (1989) One-dimensional people are stalked by a one-dimensional killer in this one-dimensional movie. An annoying couple lost on a back road are dispatched by a maniac (Bobby Ray Shafer) in a policeman’s uniform. When he’s not telling his victims bad jokes pre-kill, the psycho cop is tracing pentagrams in the dirt. Even more annoying characters are introduced in the form of partying douchebags that Shafer follows to a remote house. The woods gives the killer the perfect opportunity to hide and watch his prey drink beer, whine, and act like general nincompoops. There’s a caretaker—looking like he just stepped out of a gay porno—who claims the county stationed him at the house for security reasons, but he’s whacked in the head with an ax before we’re given anymore exposition. Psycho Cop is filled with long stretches of boredom as we’re forced to watch characters endlessly complain, about anything. When someone is finally bumped off, their death is unimaginative and bloodless. Why is the psycho cop doing all of this? Because he’s a Devil-worshipping serial killer who’s escaped from a mental hospital, or something. Who cares—the movie stinks. F (Currently streaming on Plex.)
SCHIZOID (1980) Advice columnist Julie (Mariana Hill) receives an anonymous letter threatening murder. Her editor brushes the letter off as a work of fiction; moments later Julie’s friend is stabbed to death by a scissors-wielding maniac. Julie shows the letter to her psychiatrist, Dr. Fales (Klaus Kinski), who also dismisses the situation before grabbing her for a quick embrace. Fales’ creepy leering at his teen daughter (Donna Wilkes) undressing in an earlier scene suggests he’s not the healthiest doctor in town. The killing of another woman (and patient of Fales) ignites a police investigation, who still don’t think the letters are a connection to the murders. Meanwhile, Julie’s disgruntled ex-husband (Craig Wasson) complains about their divorce, Wilkes blames her father for her mother’s suicide, and Fales acts suspicious in general. This schlocky homage to Italian giallos was Cannon Films’ first venture into slasher territory—they would tap out a year later with X-Ray—and for the most part it’s quite entertaining. Kinski adds a layer of professionalism to the film with one of his more restrained performances. The rest of the cast is also good, including Wilkes, Wasson, Christopher Lloyd, and (briefly) Karl Malden. The only thespian who seems uncomfortable is Hill (Fredo’s wife in The Godfather Part II) who more often than not comes off as too meek to muster much sympathy. B– (Currently not streaming.)