PRIME RISK

(director/writer: Michael Farkas; cinematographer: Mac Ahlberg; editor: Bruce Green ; music: Phil Marshall; cast: Toni Hudson (Julie Collins), Sam Bottoms (Bill Yeoman), Lee Montgomery (Michael Fox), Keenan Wynn (Dr. Lasser), Clu Gulager (Paul Minsky), Lois Hall (Dr. Holt), Rick Rackowsky (John); Runtime: 100; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producer: Herman Grigsby; Vestron (VHS); 1985)

“Quirky.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The first and only feature film directed by the 22-year-old Michael Farkas is a passable War Games (1983) rip-off.

Computer whiz engineering student Julie Collins (Toni Hudson)has been rejected from a good management job at the local bank, and her computer ideas presented at the interview have been stolen..That leads the disgruntled Julie and her embittered wannabe pilot boyfriend Michael (Lee Montgomery, child actor of note), also with grievances against the bank, to device a way to get back at the bank by skimming off funds from ATM machines. While enacting their con game through the computer, the duo become aware that some big-time international hackers are trying to destroy the Federal Reserve Bank. When the hackers become aware of Julie and Michael, they chase them around Washington D.C..The pair have no luck trying to convince the FBI of the cyber attack from the commie foreigners, who already have set their scheme in motion. Therefore the not so innocent kids are the only ones who can save the American banking system.

The drama reflects on the dangers uncovered in a more simple world, during the Cold War, before 9/11 and Homeland Security.

Name actors Keenan Wynn and Clu Gulager do little but act cranky. They are in it only to give the quirky pic some street cred with the public.

REVIEWED ON 4/14/2015 GRADE: C+