Hot Target (1985)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Dennis C. Lewiston

Writers:

Dennis C. Lewiston (writer)
Gerry O'Hara (story)

Release Date:

October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

The Game. The Obsession. The Manipulation.

Plot:

Wife of successful NZ businessman is seduced by fellow American after "chance" meeting in park. However...

Plot Keywords:

Cricket Game | Bored Housewife | Nudity | Female Nudity | Break In

Cast

Simone Griffeth	...	Christine Webber
Steve Marachuk	...	Greg Standford
Bryan Marshall	...	Clive Webber
Peter McCauley	...	Detective Inspector Nolan
Elizabeth Hawthorne	...	Suzanne Maxwell
Ray Henwood	...	Douglas Maxwell
John I. Watson	...	Benjamin
Renee Johansen	...	Sandy Webber
Elizabeth McRae	...	Mrs. Harris
Vivian Laube	...	Nanny
Frank Whitten	...	Apartment owner
Karl Bradley	...	Detective Bremer
Arthur Wright	...	Detective Henson
Terence Cooper	...	Carmichael
William Kircher	...	Pearson

Runtime:

USA:93 min

Country:

New Zealand | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | Singapore:R21 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Company:

Endeavour Productions

Worth the penny?

This movie recently appeared as part of a collection of 8 movies retailing for about $4 (used). So while it's not good, the real question perhaps is, is it worth 50 cents? Well, I'd say Simone "Death Race 2000" Griffeth's generous nude scenes are definitely worth 49 cents. But it's that extra penny that's the real sticking point.

In the movie's favor, it was pretty early entry into the "erotic thriller" genre, a genre which has only gotten worse and worse with each passing year, and it was obviously inspired by "Body Heat", perhaps the ONLY classic erotic thriller. Interestingly, the gender roles are completely reversed here--it's Simone Griffeth's character, an American woman married to an obnoxious British industrialist, who is the naive prey, while the man, a handsome American thief and con artist, is the seductive predator (a homme fatale?). The overall plot though occupies that gray area between uniquely bizarre and completely non-sensical. It's also interesting that it is set in Britain, and aside from the two leads, features an entirely British cast. After all, the Brits are not exactly known for erotic thrillers (or for anything erotic, for that matter). Of course, that doesn't make the movie good or bad, but it is interesting.

But is any of this really worth that extra penny? I don't know--flip a coin.