Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes (1994)

Sam Dietz is back and must find and stop another serial killer before he kills again. Detective work for Dietz is tough having to juggle two gorgeous women - one his partner, and the other his shrink, who holds the key to the case.

Director:

Oley Sassone

Writers:

Phil Alden Robinson (characters), Mark Sevi

Stars:

Leo Rossi, Famke Janssen, Colleen Coffey

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leo Rossi	...	Det. Sam Dietz
Famke Janssen	...	Dr. Sara Lee Jaffee
Colleen Coffey	...	Det. Jessica Parreti
John Scott Clough	...	Martin Trainer
Christopher Pettiet	...	Cory Dietz
Ken Lerner	...	Al Rosenberg
Loring Pickering	...	Detective Keller
Lisa Robin Kelly	...	Sherrie
Rainer Grant	...	Victim #1 - Hairdresser
Charlene Henryson	...	Victim #2 - Deaf Woman
Claudette Roche	...	Victim #3 - Grocery Shopper
John Kelly	...	Apartment Neighbor
John Meyers	...	Murder Suspect

Storyline

The fourth Relentless movie has Detective Sam Dietz (Leo Rossi) investigating a series of ritual murders committed by another L.A. serial killer. The only clue linking the victims is that all of them were in the services of a shady and unconventional therapist named Dr. Sara Lee Jaffee (Famke Janssen) who may know a lot more than what she is telling. Dietz and his new detective partner, Jessica Parreti (Colleen Coffey), think there is a link between Dr. Jaffee's therapy sessions and the murder victims when they learn that all of them had a near-death experience in the past. On the home front, the recently widowed Dietz struggles to raise his teenage son, Cory (Christopher Pettiet), on his own and deals with the troubled teenager slacking off in school, abusing drugs, and carousing with a local and similarly troubled teen girl.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | near death experience | beaten to death | dead woman in bath tub | topless female nudity | 

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Taglines:

This time nothing can stop the fear.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sunset Killer - Der Erlöser

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinetel Films, New Line Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ken Lerner, who plays coroner Al Rosenberg, previously played one of Buck Taylor's victims in the original Relentless.

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Connections

Follows Relentless (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Saudade"
Written and Performed by Sanjay
Published by Scott Kolden Publishing

User Reviews

2 times the fear.

The Relentless series seems to be in my opinion, a very well made series of "To catch a Killer"-type films. After watching the first movie and then watching the second one, I decided it was time to view the third one, as well as the fourth one. And thanks to the good people over at Image Entertainment, we get both movies on 1 DVD.

In part 3, Det. Sam Dietz (Once again, played by Leo Rossi, who this time around, gets top billing as well as even serving as one of this film's and part 4's producers) has returned from up north to the City of Angels, after being away for sometime. He is now divorced from Carol. This time around, Dietz agress to track yet another serial killer. The killer in this one, played by William Forsythe, finds various women and hacks them up and taunts the police by sending them the body parts. The killer is also someone Sam's arrested before. 7/10 In part 4, which is the better film, in my opinion, Sam is after yet another killer who kills women, based on their connection to therapist Dr. Sara Lee Jaffe (Played by Famke Janssen, in one of her first roles) in ritualistic-style murders. Sara herself holds the key to the case. Meanwhile, Dietz has other problems of his own, such as his teenage son Corey (Now being played by the late Christopher Pettiet), who's role in this seems to be somewhat bigger than part 1 or 2 and especially 3 combined (Watch 3 to know why). Also interesting to note that Ken Lerner, Michael Lerner's brother, who also appeared in part 1, plays a totally different character, a joke-loving coroner. 8.5/10. In closing, I believe 4 to be the superior film on the disc, mainly because of the intense ending, which I will not say how it goes. Both films I recommend. I hope Cinetel Films decides to make a Relentless 5 soon, although it may never happen, we may just end up with some lame remake of the first movie, but one can dream.

EXTRAS: None, except for a good 1:85 widescreen presentation for both films.