MORTAL PASSIONS

(director: Andrew Lane; screenwriter: Alan Moskowitz; cinematographer: Christian Sebaldt; editor: Kimberly Ray; music: Parmer Fuller; cast: Krista Errickson (Emily), Zach Galligan (Todd), David Warner (Dr. Powers), Michael Bowen (Berke), Luca Bercovici (Darcy), Sheila Kelley (Adele), Cassandra Gava (Cinda), Ron Vernan (Paris); Runtime: 96; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Gwen Field; Fox (MGM); 1989)
“A wacky low-budget crime film set in Beverly Hills.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A wacky low-budget crime film set in Beverly Hills. Andrew Lane (“Lonely Hearts”/”Jake Speed”/”Train Wreck”) directs and co-writes the script with Alan Moskowitz.

Emily (Krista Errickson) is a scheming beautiful liar, who is married to a weak-minded suicidal but genial rich hubby named Todd (Zach Galligan). They live in a Hollywood mansion. Emily is in the midst of having a kinky affair with her slimy lounge-lizard boyfriend Darcy (Luca Bercovici) and seduces him to knock-off her hubby so she can inherit his wealth.

The vacuous thriller has a weak script, dull characters and banal dialogue. Also, the crime drama has no suspense. If David Warner wasn’t in it, playing the shrink and confidante of Galligan, the pic would be completely mindless.

In its favor, the story is unpredictable and amusingly zany.

Michael Bowen plays the protective older brother of Zach, who is seduced by the femme fatale Errickson.

Everything about it is a reminder of film noir gone awry.

REVIEWED ON 4/21/2015 GRADE: B-