Murder in Paradise (TV Movie 1990) 5/10 stars Time to Read: 2:30 Hawaii, Serial Killers, Irreverent Cops, What else do you need?

  Hawaii, Serial Killers, Irreverent Cops, What else do you need?

Murder in Paradise (TV Movie 1990) 5 out of 10 stars Time to Read: 2:30

An honest review from neither a fanboy or a hater...

BASIC PLOT: 

Charlie Raski (Kevin Kilner) is hiding. He's hiding from his job, from the death of his wife, from his alcohol problem, but mostly from his guilt. Charlie's NYPD, and a few years ago, while hunting a serial killer, his wife was targeted. The killer decided playing with the lead detective, and his life, was better than the average hunt - more of a challenge. Charlie did everything right, he put his wife in protective custody, he was more than careful. He thought he took every precaution, but it wasn't enough. His wife was murdered by the killer Charlie was pursuing. He hasn't been able to forgive himself, even though he eventually gunned down the serial killer. The outcome brought him no peace. He hightailed it to Hawaii, crawled inside a bottle, and has been slowly killing himself ever since. A barstool in paradise is where he's been, until the nightmare started again. People are dying on the island, and the killer is using the same M. O. as the one who killed Charlie's wife. The police don't know if they should ask for Charlie's help, or make him a suspect. Charlie's decided to end the nightmare for good, even if it kills him. Can he stop the next "Murder In Paradise"?

WHAT WORKS: 

*KEVIN KILNER DOES A GREAT JOB PORTRAYING AN A-HOLE 

Kevin Kilner does an adequate job as Charlie Raski, a grief stricken burn-out, hiding out in Hawaii. Charlie is also hiding out in jerk mode, drinking away his grief. I found myself empathizing with Charlie, and talking to the screen, so it can't be a complete failure. Two of the hardest things to do as an actor are to authentically portray grief and intoxication. Kevin Kilner manages to pull off both. Is it the best performance ever? Hell no! This is a straight-to-video movie people! STOP expecting Oscars!

Kevin Kilner as Burnout cop Charlie Raski

*THE ENDING IS GREAT 

I'm talking about the realistic ending between Charlie Raski (Kevin Kilner) and Diane Mahona (Maggie Han). I'm glad the filmmakers didn't try to tack on some happy, candy ass ending. The sincere, realistic one is much better.

Maggie Han as Detective Diane Mahona

*KEVIN KILNER AND THE FILMMAKERS UNDERSTAND GRIEF

As someone who has had to make a friend of grief in order to live with it, and not have it consume me, I think the filmmakers did a good job of showing what grief can do when you just dive in, and you let it eat you alive. Charlie Raski lost his wife to a killer he was hunting, and he's trying to kill himself - slowly- as punishment. He knows what's he's doing to himself, and just doesn't give a damn. He has to want to crawl out of the hole he's made for himself, and he finds himself wanting to do just that - reclaim his life. It's the best and most well executed, part of the movie (IMHO).

Charlie picks up homeless strays

*GREAT USE OF HAWAII AS AN ATMOSPHERIC BACKDROP 

Hawaii is a beautiful backdrop for any movie, but the filmmakers succeed here in adding an element of menacing fear to the scenery, a feeling of being watched. When Emma Danton shows Charlie around her property, there's something ominous about it, something you can't quite put your finger on, and that's quality work for a straight-to-video movie made on the cheap. 

Another good use of locations are things that don't exist anymore (unfortunately). Charlie's beach house, and the wonderful dive bar he hangs out in are visual cues to the audience about Charlie's state of mind. Unfortunately, much like Vegas, there aren't many places for the common man left in Hawaii.

Charlie's Beach House

Charlie's view

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: 

*THE SERIAL KILLERS AREN'T SCARY 

It's unfortunate, because with just a little work, this movie could have been elevated to a true thriller, reminiscent of the movie, Resurrection (1999). Resurrection (1999) worked so well, because the serial killer was SCARY and DISTURBING. In this movie, it's a guy who puts some paint on people's faces, before he kills them. There's nothing frightening about him. I get this is a "light" thriller, purely PG-13, and a film like Resurrection (1999) is definitely an R, but there are ways to make a killer intimidating (think Rear Window (1954)) without blood and guts, and I wish the filmmakers had given Barbara Carrera's character, Emma Danton, more room to unnerve the audience, because she has the chops to do so.

The killers need some work

They aren't particularly scary…

…or even interesting

*THE SCRIPT KINDA MEANDERS 

This script needed some minor rewrites. Barbara Carrera's character, Emma Danton, is fine, but the way we get there, doesn't quite work. First she hates Charlie, then she calls him, and jumps his bones, at a scenic overlook. I get she's supposed to be a bit crazy, but her character needed to have someone at the reigns. As it is, she's all over the place.

Barbara Carrera as Emma Danton

Kevin Kilner & Barbara Carrera

Beautiful use of the islands

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

*If (and that's a big IF), you like 80's and 90's made-for-tv movies, or straight-to-video movies, AND you like light thrillers, you'll probably like this. It's a middle of the road, time waster. It's not trying to be anything else. So, if you like those kinds of movies, give this a try. If not, give it a pass (and don't write long, pointless reviews about how you hate this type of movie, but continue to watch and rate them anyway).

CLOSING NOTES: 

*THIS IS A STRAIGHT-TO-VIDEO MOVIE, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. Straight-to-video 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 ANY way by a bot. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews, and better entertainment. Hope I helped you out.