| Link (1986) Dir: Richard Franklin Cast: Elisabeth Shue, Terence Stamp, Richard Garnett, Steven Pinner Rated R, Approx: 103 minutes Anchor Bay Entertainment, Video and DVD |
| Richard Franklin had a promising career throughout the 1980's, from the sorely underrated Road Games, to the masterfully executed Psycho II, it seemed that Franklin was intent (along with Brian De Palma) on churning out 'Hitchcockian' genre films. Although Franklin's early cannon of genre films were exceptionally well done, no one would be likely to confuse a Franklin thriller for a Hitchcock one. There's not as much substance, nor is there much to chew on after his films are done, but nontheless, the genre efforts of Richard Franklin all stand well above the averge line. For if nothing else, Franklin manages to chrun out stylish, suspenseful pieces, his films will get your heart pumping and Link is no different. |
| The gorgeous Elisabeth Shue stars as college student Jane Chase, enrolled in the class of Dr. Steven Phillip (Terence Stamp), a scientist specializing in the study of primates. When Jane takes on the role of assistant to Dr. Phillip in order to get some experience under her belt, she takes up residence at his isolated mansion and is introduced to Phillip's elderly chimpanzie bulter, Link (played by an orangutan). Phillip has become quite obsessed, as Jane (and the viewer) discovers, in attempting to boost the intelligence of chimps. When Link, who has taken quite a liking to fire, demonstrates hostility to Phillip during an expiriment with other chimps, the doctor decides that Link must be terminated. One morning however, Jane discovers that the good doctor has gone missing and Link is growing more and more obsessed with her. The chimp butler also unleashes a violent streak, at first on the other chimps and then upon Jane. This begins with Link severing the phone lines, escalates into him watching Jane shower (Shue had a body double for the nude scenes, but there is one shot that seems like it is Elisabeth) before he prevents escape from the mansion for Jane and peaks with a series of brutal murders as Jane and a baby chimp attempt to escape the wrath of Link. |
| Link is remarkably likable and more importantly thouroughly enjoyable. Elisabeth Shue does a great job of fleshing out Jane and making her a heroine to root for, while Terence Stamp's Dr. Phillip has significantly less screen time but makes the part a meaty and memorable one. Stealing the show from the actors however, are the chimpanzies and the orangutan, all are impressively trained and make this film well worth checking out. Franklin helms the proceedings with a sure hand making sure the film doesn't disintergrate into a parody of itself. While the premise of a young woman being menaced by a savage chimp is certainly the stuff of comedy for lots of viewers, this one is loaded with great bits from an excellent opening sequence, featuring a tense moment taking place in an out of control van to the thrilling and stylish finalie where Link chases the survivors throughout the mansion with a variety of clever camera shots that really enhance the moment. Although Link may not be the scariest, or most serious film ever made, there are plenty of highs (the chimp butler, Link, gives the monkey at the end of Dario Argento's Phenomena a run for its money) and hardly any lows, qualifying this sleeper as one of the most offbeat genre titles of the 1980s, and well worth every minute. |
| Viewers shouldn't watch Link with the expectations of being terrified, this is far from the stuff of nightmares (unless you have a fear of primates), but this film has never gotten the attention it deserves. It's often met with surprisingly underwhelming reviews, it's hard to see why because if all the viewer wants, is to be positively entertained for a little over 90 minutes, than they need not look any further than this one. Richard Franklin may never have come close to filling the (unfillable) shoes of Hitchcock, but one can't deny the talent of this director. This is a minor classic and one that demands to attract the full attention it deserves now that it's been rereleased on video and DVD. |
| Matt's Rating: **** (out of 5) |
| Reviewed by Matt Serafini 01/22/02 |
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