Private Obsession (1995)

Director:

Lee Frost

Writer:

Lee Frost (writer)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

Emanuelle, a world famous fashion model, is held captive by Richard Tate, a crazed fan. Richard wants...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Model | Sex | Female Rear Nudity | Nudity

Cast

Michael Christian	...	Richard Tate
Shannon Whirry	...	Emanuelle Griffith
Bo Svenson	...	Sam Weston
Tony Burton	...	Sergeant Jim Lytel
Lee Frost	...	Jerry Turner
Francine York	...	Joan Harris
Keythe Farley	...	New York Photographer
Kelly J. Hornbaker	...	Phil
John Aitken II	...	Peetie's Handler
Allison Sie	...	Kim
Rip Taylor	...	Mr. 'T'
Freda Payne	...	Boutique Sales Director
Denise Gieser	...	Boutique Model
Lillian Hurst	...	Estella (as Lilian Hurst)

Also Known As:

Watch Me (UK) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:(Banned) | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Via Lido Films

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Throughout captivity, Manny and Richard converse through the television monitor, as if they are looking at each other. The camera, however, is behind Manny, so Richard would only be seeing the back of her head, as she faces the monitor. He wouldn't be looking at her face. Also, when they show Richard at his console, there is no camera facing him, that would be televising his face into the room. The bathroom wall where the camera is hidden is an interior wall, so the camera would be sticking into the room, in order to be shooting into the bathroom.

Quotes:

Emanuelle Griffith: Men will tell you anything they want you to hear.

Soundtrack:

STARS FELL ON TIJUANA

An Exploitation Master's Sad Last Gasp

I realize Shannon Whirry was the main draw for "Private Obsession," but it was the director, the late Lee Frost, who was my reason for seeking this title out. Frost directed some of the grittiest and meanest grindhouse movies in the 1960s ("The Defilers," "Hot Spur," "The Pick-Up") and some of the more entertaining drive-in movies of the 1970s ("Dixie Dynamite," "Black Gestapo"). Even his hardcore films (most notably "Climax of Blue Power") were a notch above the usual porno fare.

But the fast-paced narratives, brutal violence and gritty style of Frost's earlier work isn't found in "Private Obsession," his last movie. Instead, it's just another humdrum direct-to-video erotic thriller, only it's not even that good. The story--about a psychotic male chauvinist (Michael Christian) obsessed with a famous fashion model/feminist icon(!)--should have been right up Frost's alley. After all, it's just a '90s update of "The Defilers." But his heart just doesn't appear to be in it this time. Even though Whirry's character is kidnapped and held against her will, there's no real tension or suspense. The torments inflicted on her are the equivalent of a bratty little kid locking his babysitter out of the house. The script, written by Frost, often meanders, with story points that appear made up on the spot, like when Christian's character inexplicably books a trip with a gay travel agent (Rip Taylor) to the Caribbean. I don't begrudge Taylor getting work, but his scene could have -- no, make that should have-- been left on the cutting room floor.

If Michael Christian's name rings a bell, he was titular Eddie in the notorious "Poor Pretty Eddie." In that movie he managed to be goofy, creepy and menacing. In "Private Obsession" he's just goofy (and 15 pounds heavier) playing the role as if it were written for William Shatner at his most desperate. As for Whirry, she's OK if a bit shrill at times, but most viewers won't be concerned about her acting. Though she gets topless periodically throughout the movie, the softcore action doesn't happen until the movie's final third. It really isn't worth the wait.

It's a shame that Lee Frost's last movie was this forgettable thriller. Other than its misogynistic attitude and the director appearing in a small role as a bumbling investigator, there's really nothing that distinguishes this as having been directed by Frost at all.