Malicious

It doesn't help having well known actors, when they are instructed badly. That's the case in this quite awful movie. Story is OK, but the probabilities are none or scarce, and the shortcuts made make some of it hilarious. Molly Ringwald, John Vernon Mimi Kuzyk and Patrick McGaw all are doing their best in vain. 4/10 - and then I'm kind!

I knew nothing about this movie before I saw it, but it didn't take long for me to think of "Fatal Attraction", which was quite disturbing but better executed. Yes, this is kind of scary, but it's not a classic movie or anything like that. In fact, it borders on comedy, mainly early. I don't recall any outstanding performances, but the quality of this movie depends a lot on Molly Ringwald. She's quite good-looking and delivers a fine performance when she is acting normal. She's just a little too normal at times, though. I am reminded of someone's comment about Anthony Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs". After all those weirdos, we see this calm man also in a cage. And THAT'S scary. So one possible interpretation is that Ringwald is too calm and therefore scary because you know she should be more disturbing. And it could also be mediocre acting. One thing is certain, though. When she looks at Doug or anyone else disapprovingly, she is quite intimidating. This isn't excessively violent but there is some blood, and one really disturbing scene. I don't recommend this as family viewing. Laura is pretty but I found the scene where she got out of bed in just a t-shirt and underwear disappointing. Not a great movie, but an opportunity to see the cute Molly Ringwald not so cute.

MALICIOUS is another mundane psycho thriller, made during a period when the genre was definitely becoming stale and past its sell-by date. The only interest and draw of this one is a chance to see THE BREAKFAST CLUB's Molly Ringwald playing against her well known romantic loveable type as a typical jilted lover who goes off the deep end when rejected by one of her conquests. It's a rather meek and unenterprising kind of production, never particularly shocking or original, content to get by instead on exploitation staples like copious sexuality and nudity (including, shockingly enough, from Ringwald).

Doug Gordon (Patrick McGaw) is the star college baseball player with girlfriend Laura (Sarah Lassez). He's taken with mysterious student Melissa Nelson (Molly Ringwald) at a party. She propositions him. They have a sexual affair. He starts brushing her off which only angers her. This is a B-movie version of 'Fatal Attraction'. I didn't like Michael Douglas' character in that movie. I like this idiot even less. Patrick McGaw has limited charisma. Molly Ringwald is probably the only interesting part in this movie who is acting circles around McGaw. It's also a little sad to see her reduced to a lesser erotic B-movie. It may be worthwhile to see Molly Ringwald for some people but there's not much reason for anybody else.

While MALICIOUS is of the tribe of FATAL ATTRACTION, I think other commentators here have overlooked its obvious progenitor. The scenario of the final section -- the psycho becomes the girlfriend's roommate under an assumed name -- is a direct lift from PLAY "MISTY" FOR ME. In this version, though, there are two huge improbabilities: A). Melissa is a notorious fugitive of wealthy background who did in her own dad -- it is incredible that Laura has never seen her picture; and B.) when our hero learns Melissa is in Laura's apartment, instead of calling the police immediately, he goes hurling across San Francisco on a motorcycle, unarmed, in the rain. I hope I never need him to rescue me.

Real-life teen sensation Molly Ringwald's fall from cinematic grace was swifter and more disastrous than Sky Lab, due in part to B-flicks like this one. It's a "Fatal Attraction" retread which casts the now-sexed up Ringwald as a jilted woman who stalks her man down, with John Vernon in a ridiculous supporting role as a detective who gets involved (he snoops around like Hercule Poirot). Actually, the film begins OK, but gets increasingly more preposterous as things progress. Unreleased dud went straight to tape, with the little hoopla it received being Ringwald's scant nudity. Another Hollywood fairy-tale in reverse. * from ****

A very likable cast helps elevate this clichéd script. Patrick McGaw(the unlucky dude off of Dream With the Fishes) portrays a college baseball stud who scouts drool over. He has everything, athletic skill, determination to succeed and a loving girlfriend(portrayed by the cute Sarah Lassez), but loses it all when he has a fling with demented stalker Molly Ringwald. After the deed is done, McGaw just wants to go back to his normal life and leave that night as a one night stand. But Molly badgers him constantly, and loses focus on the diamond which turns scouts off and feels the urge to tell Sarah Lassez that he cheated on her. All men should watch this film, as it does justice to the troubles men can face when they have an encounter with an unstable woman. McGaw gets accused of rape, and the cops bring him in based on Molly's word alone. Hey, this really happens, and many men get burned because of this. This film is very exciting, and even if you feel the characters are moralless scum seeking to fulfill their carnal desires, you'll still want to know what the end holds for these characters. Molly wasn't shy in this film, as she goes topless in a boat love scene. Who knew she was packing such perfection under those sweaters?