Murder C.O.D.

Description

Based on Barbara Paul's acclaimed book, Kill Fee, this sharp-edged thriller follows a cunning hitman who painstakingly selects his clients and victims. He then commits the murder without the "beneficiary's" knowledge and sends them an invoice for $100,00, with a threat that nonpayment will result in being framed for the murder. Seasoned Police Detective Lt. Murtaugh must outwit the clever executioner in order to salvage both his job and his self-respect.

Customer Reviews:

Crime Thriller Theatre 3000 anyone?.......2005-12-30

The screen credits bill this 1990 TV flick (94-minutes, 4x3 aspect) as a crime/thriller based on Barbara Paul's marginally interesting but seriously flawed 1985 novel "Kill Fee." To Ms. Paul's credit, the book's plotting has an interestingly original idea with a credible climax, though not as imaginative as it might have been. But a good novel requires more than plot: Here the writing is stiff; there is no ambiance, and the cardboard cutout characters resist any prospective reader empathy. This reviewer only read the novel in the interests of this review; otherwise it is not recommended.

The basic plot of this flick and the novel is a character named Alex Brandt (played by William Devane; "Pluto" in the book) who runs a murder-for-$100,000 scheme. Using a notepad plus high-tech, surreptitious, and highly portable recording equipment, Alex trolls for prospective "clients" in public areas. He eavesdrops on and records snatches of conversation between parties with considerable financial resources who hate each other's guts and have threatening disagreements in such areas as adverse business takeovers and spousal abuse. Retreating to his hidden, reinforced bunker, Alex uses computers and the internet to unscramble the raw data, build detailed personal profiles, and identify prospective targets. Assessing relative risks and financial resources, victims are chosen, assassinated, and the beneficiaries billed $100,000 for the "service" in that order.

In the book, Pluto does his research using more modest tools in his non-fortified apartment: a cork-board for newspaper clippings, various notes, and other relatively low-tech equipment. Pluto also determines prospective clients through researching other than public conversations. Rather than simply upgrading the book's technology and embellishing the characterizations so lacking in the original, which would have made a far more interesting movie, the producers kept only the basic idea and threw everything else away:

TO AVOID SPOILERS SKIP NEXT PARAGRAPH!

Aficionados of that book beware: Paul focused the novel on (saintly-pure) protagonist Police Lieutenant James Murtaugh and sets the action entirely in New York City: Murtaugh's superior, Captain Anspacher is thoroughly corrupted by the mob, feels (with good reason) threatened by Murtaugh's various investigations, and tries to get Murtaugh surreptitiously removed from the force. Murtaugh finds out and launches his own counter-investigation. This conflict forms the basis of the bond with Pluto, leading directly into the climactic developments: Pluto, sensing that Murtaugh is starting to close in on his activities, takes the opportunity to have Murtaugh as a "client" by assassinating Anspacher. He then submits his 'bill" to Murtaugh, the price being to foul-up the investigation. The flick scraps all this and substitutes an (off-screen) adulterous and out-of-control affair Murtaugh has in Chicago, unbeknownst to his wife. Alex finds out and assassinates the offending adulteress (off-screen) in exchange for Murtaugh's fouling up the investigation. Murtaugh drops his Chicago investigations and flees to Portland, where the flick begins as Alex has relocated him, leading to the flick's predictable shootout.

Thus, Murtaugh's relationship to his new Portland colleagues bears no resemblance to the book, being replaced with a few petty and stupid rivalries. The many anecdotal scenes showing how Pluto operates are scrapped and replaced with several inferior substitutes. In the book, beneficiaries pay to avoid truly nasty reprisals (demonstrated in one case) because Pluto takes great pains to insure assassinations occur only when the clients have cast-iron alibis, even so informing his clients on their bills! None of this is in the flick: It is largely the prospect of becoming prime police suspects, by Alex telling the police he was hired as a hit-man if necessary, which motivates the beneficiaries to keep their dealings with Alex private. These kinds of stupidities permeate the flick.

Having never watched Dallas, this reviewer finds Patrick Duffy's performance as the protagonist Murtaugh uncompelling. As for the other supporting "actors", the less said the better. The principal star here is Devane who is front and center throughout. Despite the plot absurdities, his credible performance and the technology he uses are the sole positives. But even Devane's Alex is ultimately ruined by the incompetent plot revisions, which force his characterization to evolve from one of highly-intelligent, cold-blooded rationality (as in the book throughout) into that of a psychopathic nut-case.

The DVD color picture and sound are fine. This reviewer's DVD had a one-second picture glitch at 31:25, repeatable on another system, but otherwise presenting no real interference. For Devane completists only.

Average customer rating:

SERIAL KILLING FOR DUMMIES
Terrible Movie 101...
A Diamond In The Rough
This movie SUCKS
A Serial Disaster

Serial Killing 101
Starring: Michael Alaimo , Elise Ballard , Eric C. Charmelo , Thomas Haden Church , and Katherine D'Armond
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Slasher Flicks | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00019078U
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Customer Reviews:

SERIAL KILLING FOR DUMMIES.......2006-04-01

Lisa Loeb was 34 years old when she made this movie, playing a mousy 17 year old. Justin Urich plays a morose lad whose ambition in life is to be a serial killer, and Loeb wants to be his first victim. It's all slowly paced, poorly written and Loeb is simply awful. Urich does a little better but the whole plot is so ridiculous one doesn't really care. And what a shame to see future Oscar nominee Thomas Haden Church in a disastrously bad performance, so Rod Steigerish in its delivery that he definitely should've gotten a Razzy that year.
Ho hum, what a drag.

Terrible Movie 101..........2006-02-24

As a horror movie fan, I bought this movie ( previously viewed, thank goodness). Reading the box, it looked like it might be a good horror flick. How wrong was I !!!!! This movie shouldn't even fall into the horror catagory. The whole movie is about a teenager, Casey Noland, who aspires to be the next famous serial killer...... Not! He can't even bring himself to harm the next door neighbor's dog! What makes this movie even more stupid is the fact that his "gothic" friend wants to become his first victim. Together, they think of ways and weapons he can use to make him "different" from other already known serial killers. This movie is more funny than horror which still isn't saying much for the film. With a stupid plot and poor acting, I don't recommend this film for any true horror film fan for it is not a horror movie at all. Don't be fooled by the box...... it's not worth the money even to rent it.

A Diamond In The Rough.......2005-07-14

OK...I'm going to keep this short. This is a well made, dark comedy that is worth your viewing time. With "stars" you will recognise and memorable performances, it makes for great Friday night entertainment. It may not stack up for those snotty connoisseurs out there, but for the rest of you, take the risk...you'll like it!! This was a direct to video movie, but is far better than much of the crap that somehow made it to screen. Also, interesting to note that Thomas Hayden Church has since gone on to star in "Sideways" for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!

This movie SUCKS.......2005-06-18

Absolutely awful black comedy tries to be darkly humorous like Heathers and Very Bad Things and ends up being plain dark. A teen fascinated with serial killers and murder decides he wants to be a killer after he graduates from High School and a real life killer is killing people in the town. A desperate attempt at black comedy with barely any laughs and even the black-humor isn't very funny. Avoid this and rent Pulp Fiction,Very Bad Things,or any other dark comedy out there. Despite Thomas Haden Church's funny performance as a mean coach this movie is a BOMB.

A Serial Disaster.......2005-06-09

Call me silly, but I enjoy stupid horror films - especially if they're about serial killers. This is quite a radical dichotomy. While my favorite film is "The Silence of the Lambs", it's not because it's a movie about a serial killer - why? Because it isn't. Anyone with a brain the size of a squirrel understands that, and I won't waste any time explaining it.

What surprised me about this film was that it quoted "The Silence of the Lambs". I was stunned. This wasn't a serious piece by any definition, and while it would give me great pleasure to pick it apart piece by piece, it's not a significant enough for me to waste me time doing so.

Suffice to say that it attempted to be a serious film and a comedy all in one. It failed. There was a love interest that was as dead as a squashed tomato, a wanna be serial killer who couldn't kill dog (admittedly, that plays into the comedy), and a host of other nonsensical arrangements of characters and situations that made the film entirely unbelievable - *whether it was a comedy or a serious film*. The only thing that I felt good about during the film was knowing that Thomas Hayden Church did a tremendous turn in "Sideways". It was depressing to see an actor of his talent in a film of massive disarray.

Average customer rating:

Action On The Ground And Above It

Murder in the Clouds
Starring: Lyle Talbot , Ann Dvorak , Gordon Westcott , Robert Light , and George Cooper
Director: D. Ross Lederman
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Espionage | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0001DMWV6
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Customer Reviews:

Action On The Ground And Above It.......2002-04-27

This quick little programmer from Warner Brothers stars Lyle Talbot as a hotshot pilot (was there any other kind?) who finds himself mixed up in a plot to steal important government military information. His stewardess girlfriend Ann Dvorak also becomes caught up in the plot. However, character and dialogue aren't what this film is about. Like any Warner Bros film, the emphasis is on action, and director D. Ross Lederman provides the viewer with plenty of aerial action (and ground action as well). The movie moves along quickly and tightly and is finished in just over an hour. As programmers go, it is well done and entertaining, delivering exactly what you would expect.

Average customer rating:

Murder C.O.D.
Starring: William Devane , Patrick Duffy , Chelsea Field , Mariette Hartley , and Alex Hyde-White
Director: Alan Metzger
Manufacturer: Tango Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000ERVKGW
Release Date: 2005-06-28

DVD:

DVD

DVD