An Occasional Hell (1996)

A former policeman-turned college professor of forensics, is asked by a widow to solve the murder of her unfaithful husband and the disappearance of his mistress who may have been linked to some drug dealers.

Director:

Salomé Breziner

Writers:

Anton Sanko, Randall Silvis (novel),

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Valeria Golino, Kari Wuhrer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Berenger	...	Dr. Ernest Dewalt
Valeria Golino	...	Elizabeth Laughton
Kari Wuhrer	...	Jeri Gillen
Robert Davi	...	Trooper Larry Abbott
Richard Edson	...	Rodney Gillen
Stephen Lang	...	Alex Laughton
Danny Comden	...	Craig Fox
Ellen Greene	...	Della
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Draper Jewett
Trenton McDevitt	...	Male Student (as Trent McDevitt)
Sherril M. Turner	...	Chadwick
Bo Brinkman	...	Trooper Brown
Cameron Glaesner	...	Chris
Selden Smith	...	Aleta Jewett
Don Tilley	...	Clifford Jewett

Storyline

When a married man is found murdered, and his girlfriend is missing, the police suspect the wife of the murdered man. The wife turns to a professor at college who is a medically disabled ex-cop to help clear her. Not wanting the job at first, he eventually does begin to investigate the crime while fighting the demons and the pain of his own life. The clues are scarce, but one clue is that the man was murdered with an unusual weapon - a musket.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | suspect | murder | widow | disappearance | 

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Taglines:

An ex-cop haunted by his past, his murder and his future.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, violence, language and some drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Acosado por su pasado

Filming Locations:

Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Corps Endeavors, Greenlight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cast contains the entire band Jump Little Children, in their only onscreen credits.

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Goofs

Dewalt's car changes color during the movie.

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Soundtracks

"BLAME"
Written by Tim Paruszkiewicz
Performed by Vitamade from the album 'Everything You Need'
Courtesy of Bong Load Custom Records

User Reviews

Gripping plot & well rounded characters, let down by weak ending.

From the first frame, this film glues you to the screen, with a gripping plot that is full of potential. As we learn more about the victim's wife and the university professor she employs in the role of reluctant detective, we are determined to delve further into the minds of this mysterious woman and the laconic southern gentleman, who is forced to confront his own past demons.

Regrettably, this strong foundation is undermined by the failure of the film to shine any light on the personalities of the victim or his abducted companion - elements that are essential to understanding the fate which overtakes them. And sadly the denouement is glaringly obvious - a limp ending to what should have been a superb thriller.