Deadly Encounter/Over The Edge (TV movie 2004) 6 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 3 min

A made for women remake of "Duel"...

DEADLY ENCOUNTER/OVER THE EDGE (TV movie 2004) 6 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 3 min

BASIC PLOT: 

Joanne Sanders (Laura Leighton) has a lot on her plate. She recently divorced her cheating husband Keith (Frank Schorpion), and now she's raising their 13 yr old son, Eric (Danny Mags), all on her own.

She works nights as a hostess at a jazz club, and often doesn't get home until after 2AM. On her drive home, Joanne is often tired, and one night, she accidently cut someone off. She stopped, and tried to ascertain if the driver of the other vehicle was alright. However, he wouldn't even let her get close, instead backing up when she approached him. When she decides it's best to just leave, he chases her, pushes her car, and tries to kill her.

Joanne manages to escape, but little does she realize, this was just his first foray into what he believes is justified retribution.

The stalker begins a relentless invasion of Joanne's life, intent on terrorizing her at every turn. She will have to draw on all her inner strength to survive this "Deadly Encounter".

WHAT WORKS: 

*THE CAR CHASE/ACCIDENT SCENE REALLY WORKS It's very reminiscent of the Stephen Spielberg tv movie, Duel (1971), but with a fresh perspective. As a single woman, working the nightshift can be frightening. But throw in a psychotic driver, and a rain storm, and it becomes downright terrifying. This movie puts you there with Joanne, you feel her trepidation and unease. It's very well done.

*LAURA LEIGHTON DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB AS JOANNE SANDERS, A WOMAN PUSHED TO HER LIMITS Anyone who watched Laura Leighton on Melrose Place (1992) knows she's a good actress, but this movie shows she also has range. It's about as far from her Melrose character, Sydney Andrews, as you can get, yet she pulls it off beautifully. Well done Laura!

*GREAT PERFORMANCE FROM A YOUNG DANNY MAGS Danny Mags gives an excellent performance as Joanna's son, Eric. This movie is very well cast, a credit to Vera Miller & Nadia Rona (casting agents).

*THE EX-HUSBAND'S EXCUSES WOULD RING TRUE FOR A LOT OF WOMEN Keith (Frank Schorpion), Joanne's ex-husband, blames her for their son's anger. He asks if she's been turning him against his father, and she replies, "You've been doing a pretty good job of that all on your own." Many women have had this experience, and it adds a layer of authenticity to this film.

*I'M SO GLAD THIS MOVIE DIDN'T KILL ANYONE WHO DIDN'T NEED TO BE KILLED So often in TV movies, they are needlessly bloody, making them less believable. This movie tows the line, with just the right amount of suspenseful violence. Good job Duane Poole (writer)!

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: 

*THE POLICE WOULD KNOW IT'S A MAN WHO CHASED HER Sgt. Collins, the cop Joanne tries to report the incident to, gives her a hard time when she tells them it's a man, but she couldn't see into the vehicle. He wouldn't chide her for thinking it's a man. Cops would know it's a man. Road rage incidents are almost always men, and when they aren't, the woman gets in your face at the scene. A woman would not go to the trouble of hunting Joanne down, and terrorizing her. That's a man's behavior, and even if the cops couldn't do anything to help Joanne, they would still know it was a man who was stalking her.

*NO WOMAN WOULD GIVE HER FRIENDS LOCATION TO A VOICE ON THE PHONE I have a real problem with this one, because it falls into the realm of a deus ex machina. Carol (Cary Lawrence), Joanne's best friend, knows she's being stalked, and knows how serious the situation is. She would NEVER give out Joanne's location to a voice on the phone, even if the voice said it was a police officer. NO WOMAN WOULD!

*HOW DOES THE STALKER KNOW JOANNE'S ROOM NUMBER? This is part of the previous deus ex machina. If the stalker got the hotel Joanna and Eric were staying in from Carol, he still wouldn't have the room number. Hotel/Motels WILL NOT give out room numbers (I've worked at many, and I know). So how does he know which door to go to? If he knocked on every door, someone would complain, and either security, or the police would be involved. So, how does he know the room number!?

*WHY DOES JOANNA SAY TO THE DETECTIVE SHE'S SURE SHE KNOWS WHO THE STALKER IS, WHEN SHE'S NOT SURE?

Women learn not give men reasons to think them hysterical, so why does she say she's definitely sure, when she's not?

TO RECOMMEND, OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION: 

*I would definitely recommend this to Laura Leighton fans. But I would also recommend to anyone who enjoys a good made-for-tv thriller. It attempts to be as good as the original, Stephen Spielberg tv movie, Duel (1971), and I like it just as well. I would also recommend to those who like to see women take charge of their own problems, or to those who enjoy a diverting TV movie. Pop that corn, and enjoy!

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: 

*THIS MOVIE SHOWCASES THE TYPE OF SITUATION ALL WOMEN SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR. We should teach our girls, and young women, how to defend themselves from threats, and how to control their fears in any situation. Arming yourself is a personal choice, and should only be considered if you have the moxie to use the weapon effectively (understand, that may mean killing another human being). If we taught our girls how NOT think, or behave like prey, we'd have a lot less victimization of women in this world.

*I'M SICK OF CAT WOMAN COMMENTS Why is it ok to say older women with cats are pathetic, but older women with dogs, are ok? I find that offensive, and I am sick of hearing it from writers. (Full disclosure: I have cats, AND dogs, so I guess that makes me only half pathetic?)

*THIS IS A MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE, please keep that in mind before you watch/rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.

*I HAVE NO CONNECTION TO THE FILM, OR PRODUCTION IN ANY WAY. This review was NOT written in full, or in part, by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews (less trolls and fanboys), and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.