Blackout (TV 1985)

A police officer suspects that a local husband and father who has recently undergone facial surgery because of injuries received in a car accident is in reality the same man who committed a... See full summary »

Director:

Douglas Hickox

Writers:

David Ambrose (screenplay), David Ambrose (story),

Stars:

Keith Carradine, Kathleen Quinlan, Richard Widmark

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keith Carradine	...	Allen Devlin
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Chris Graham
Richard Widmark	...	Joe Steiner
Michael Beck	...	Mike Patterson
Gerald Hiken	...	Theo Grant
Don Hood	...	Phil Murphy
Dameon Clarke	...	Battered Child
Martina Deignan	...	Pauline
Paul Drake	...	John Davey
Lawrence Lott	...	Dr. Van Buren
Kenneth Kimmins	...	Dr. Kay (as Ken Kimmins)
Murray Ord	...	Harlan French
Sheila Moore	...	Dr. Alcott
Jason Michas	...	Mark
Shana Lane-Block	...	Kathy

Storyline

A police officer suspects that a local husband and father who has recently undergone facial surgery because of injuries received in a car accident is in reality the same man who committed a quadruple murder several years before.

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Plot Keywords:

police | car accident | adultery | bloody body of child | child murder investigation | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blackout - Bestie in Schwarz

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Premiere Films, Roger Gimbel Productions, Peregrine Entertainment Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was released theatrically in France.

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Connections

Featured in Medical Detectives: Dinner and a Movie (2003)

User Reviews

It's a good thing, I do remember.

A TV presentation that was better than expected and managed to throw up a good amount of jarring suspense and genuine twists in a customary murder mystery thriller set-up. Director Douglas Hickox (father of director Anthony Hickox) gets the goods out of his first-rate cast consisting of Richard Widmark, Keith Carradine, Kathleen Quinlan and Michael Beck. Widmark's hardened ex-cop and Quinlan's concerned wife are pure class. Carradine is terrifically convincing in the lead role.

After the discovery of a brutally murdered mother and her children, the search begins for the father, but he seems to have disappeared. Six years later the cop who was in charge of the case is retired by the force, but still looking into the case. In the mail he receives an anonymous letter with an article that features a man who recovered from a devastating car accident, but had lost his memory about his past. Now his starting a new life with a family, but could he be the killer?

In the air are a disturbing and glum vibe, and the opening sequence cements it. What begins is quite slow-going in a melodrama format, but the gradually tight build-up psychologically toys around with the viewer of what to possibility to believe. It's resourcefully written and relies on Hickox's competently accomplished directorial timing to get the most out of mysterious avenues and intense flourishes. Never does it fall into anything cheap or uninspired, and the red herrings are pulled off effectively and the intensity grows to lead onto the final revelation. The enliven score is well-placed and sorrowfully orchestrated for maximum impact.

The TV feature 'Blackout' is one to look out for.