Tags
1990's, Alex McArthur, Ashley Judd, Bill Nunn, Cary Elwes, Gary Fleder, Kiss the Girls, Morgan Freeman, Thriller
Film Title
Kiss the Girls
Director
Gary Fleder
Starring
- Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross
- Ashley Judd as Kate McTiernan
- Cary Elwes as Detective Nick Ruskin
- Alex McArthur as Detective Davey Sikes
- Bill Nunn as Detective John Sampson
Although it may be a somewhat by the numbers thriller that many will say doesn’t have a lot to set it apart from all the other thrillers churned out, Kiss the Girls at least benefits highly from atmosphere and credible work from Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd that elevates it a compelling and creepy watch.
Alex Cross is a brilliant forensic psychologist who also works as a detective in Washington, D.C. He is exceptional at getting inside the heads of serial killers, yet also manages to keep a distance of emotion so as not to be completely taken over by the horrors he uncovers. Yet things get personal when he receives news that his young niece Naomi has been kidnapped from her university campus. Travelling to North Carolina and meeting the detectives on the case, including the cynical Nick Ruskin, he is informed that they believe that Naomi is one of a number of women who have been kidnapped by a twisted predator known as Casanova. His most recent victim is a beautiful and strong-willed doctor by the name of Kate McTiernan ,who is imprisoned in a subterranean lair along with the other women. The talented Alex determines that the twisted Casanova is not a killer per say; he is a collector of strong-willed women. He only kills the women he captures if they break the rules of subservience that he cruelly enforces on them. This gives Alex and the other detectives hope that there is still time to unearth the location of the missing women. Meanwhile Kate, with her intelligence and physical prowess manages to overpower her captor and escape his lair, surviving by running to a nearby river and jumping in. When she is found, she is traumatised by her ordeal but still determined. Alex talks with her to try to get some picture of Casanova’s motives and whereabouts. In the beginning, Kate’s memory is hazy because of drugs she was injected with, but as her memory comes back, she begins to help Alex with the search to find his niece before it is too late. However, as the investigation continues, links begin to appear between Casanova and another serial killer in Los Angeles. Are the two killers colluding with each other? And can the strong Kate lead Alex in the right direction to discovering Casanova and his niece?
The direction provided by Gary Fleder is confident enough and helps compliment the style and pace of the movie. He may occasionally take a step in the wrong direction, such as when he delves into the possible connection between Casanova and another killer that doesn’t quite hold the impact of the main Casanova story. But his directing is credible and well sustained enough with dark terror and menace to kept you watching. There is some superb editing and cinematography that combine for a ghoulish effect, especially when in Casanova’s depraved and warped world in which he dominates the women he has abducted. With distorted angles and kinetic editing, Kiss the Girls gives a real sense of disorientation and Gothic atmosphere that is incredibly well done. The subterranean structure of Casanova’s lair is a suitably chilling and fear-inducing highlight of set design, rendered with a perverse and creepy impact. There are a few issues with some of the plot directions taken within the movie and a running time that is a bit too long. Some of the script could have done with a bit of tweaking as well, as some scenes go on for longer than required. Yet for all those flaws, Kiss the Girls manages to retain interest from the audience with its thrills and chills. A well-constructed score provides a creepy backdrop to Kiss the Girls and knows exactly when to build the necessary suspense and then ratchet it up a few notches.
In the role of Alex Cross, Morgan Freeman is as reliably excellent as he always is. There is a humility, grace and depth Freeman brings to the part, tempered with a brilliant mind of intelligence, quiet dignity and grave authority. I think it’s safe to say that his authoritative demeanor is perfect for the part and he is the only person I can think of to play the part of Alex Cross so well. Equally as impressive is Ashley Judd as the traumatised but incredibly brave Kate, who refuses to be seen as a victim because of her ordeal. Judd projects a tough steel and inner vulnerability to the character that we can relate to as her toughness acts as the shield to stop her completely going to pieces. Sterling support is provided by Cary Elwes and Alex McArthur as the wry detectives initially reluctant of Cross but needing him to help. Bill Nunn is also well cast as the best friend and confidante on the case.
So all in all, Kiss the Girls is not going to win any awards for inventiveness, but it remains a gripping thriller with spine-chilling visual style, ominous music and typically great performances from the two leads.
beetleypete said:
I liked the twist at the end, not too obvious. Have you see the next one, ‘Along came a spider’?
Cheers, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I thought it was a good twist. I think I’ve only seen a bit of Spider.
LikeLike
beetleypete said:
They are both on TV all the time, so you should be able to catch up soon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’ll be sure to keep a look out for it then.
LikeLike
Morgan Mills said:
Great review. I thought it was a good film but I agree with the handful of flaws you pointed out. Morgan Freeman was fantastic, as always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I think it’s a given that when you cast Morgan Freeman, he will turn in a solid performance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
imustseemovie.com said:
intense and fantastic movie
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Intense is the right word, especially the sequence in which Kate escapes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wendell said:
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this, but it is a really solid thriller. And yes, Freeman and Judd are both excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Aside from a few flaws, it was still a gripping thriller.
LikeLike
By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Fabulous review Vinnie! I used to be a huge fan of Patterson’s Alex Cross series before he started churning out schlock. In addition to the points you made, part of my problem with the movie adaptations is that I couldn’t buy into Morgan Freeman playing Alex. Don’t get me wrong. He’s one of my favorite actors, but he was too old to play the character. At the time I was picturing Denzel Washington.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks for commenting Kim. I haven’t read any of the books I must say. I understand that when you read a book, you do have a certain picture of the characters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lloyd Marken said:
I rate Kiss the Girls quite a lot. Along Came a Spider? Ugh not so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I haven’t seen Along Came a Spider yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Telltale Mind said:
Love this film. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks man, I’ve seen it quite a few times and it is a very good thriller.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
an oldie but goodie, nice review V-man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I do so enjoy digging back into some oldies from time to time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
Me too 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It gives variety to things and it is the spice of life. I try to practice that in many parts of my life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
agree!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
And I want to make my blog as interesting as it can possibly be. And sexy too. Hopefully I have accomplished both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
Indeed you have 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’m happy to know that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Emilio Pasquale said:
See, that’s why I like reading your reviews,you make me see things I might miss or have missed the first time through. I remember seeing this and it was, as you say, nothing special but it certainly held my interest. Now, I hve to go back nd watch it again. Love your reviews. A few typos, but otherwise…. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks for that, I like bringing things that people might have missed to the table. As for typos, I am usually good at avoiding them but sometimes they creep in.
LikeLike
~REBECCA DAWN~ said:
I loved this movie! And along came a spider. Between the two? Along came the spider is my favorite! I love Alex cross mystery! And of course the Alex cross movie with Tyler Perry!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I will have to check out Along Came a Spider soon then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
~REBECCA DAWN~ said:
Yes I am a big fan of Morgan Freeman and Monica Potter. She is his costar in the movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’ve seen Monica Potter in other things, she’s really beautiful.
LikeLike
~REBECCA DAWN~ said:
Yes i agree! I loved her in head over heels! I watched that many times!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
renxkyoko said:
Read the book, watched the movie. J. Patterson is one of my favorite thriller novelists.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
He’s definitely a prolific writer, seems to have a new book out every year.
LikeLike
keepsmealive said:
Haha I saw this post called kiss the girls and before clicking on it, knowing what you sometimes put on your site, I totally didn’t think it was about the movie!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Haha, this comment has made my day.
LikeLike
Alok Singhal said:
I gotta watch this one…I like Morgan a lot (and you’ve given a befitting description to his roles)! Thanks for putting this up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks for taking a look at my blog and reading my reviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
kmSalvatore said:
Ohh that was a great movie
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
A very suspenseful and well played movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hypersonic55 said:
This is one of those films I’ve wanted to watch for years, mainly because of the film’s title haha. It sounds strange but the title alone just sounded so alluring and interesting that I wanted to give it a watch, oh and of course Morgan Freeman’s inclusion was a huge bonus too. Cool review yo, I’m pretty sure I’ll give it a watch before the year’s out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It’s a good enough thriller with some stylish touches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eccentric Muse said:
I am an avid James Patterson fan. He is my favorite author and one of the reasons why I started writing. However, I have not seen the movie and I don’t think I’ll watch it. Cool review, though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I think you should see the film. I’ve just checked out your site, very good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eccentric Muse said:
Thank you as is yours 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thank you for the praise.
LikeLike
Pingback: High Crimes – vinnieh
Pingback: Along Came a Spider – vinnieh