Shoot (1993)

Inside this seductive world, gamblers find themselves pulled into a web of deception.

Director:

Tom Logan

Stars:

Christopher Atkins, Patrick Cherry, Miles O'Keeffe

Cast

Credited cast:
Christopher Atkins	...	Spence
Patrick Cherry	...	Barker
Miles O'Keeffe	...	King
Dedee Pfeiffer	...	Catherine
Russell Sanderlin Sr.	...	Vice-Detective

Storyline

The deck is stacked against photographer Katie Tracy as she penetrates an underground gambling ring and gets involved with the ringleader. The stakes are high when a private auction of the Emperor's pearl attracts a high rolling clientèle who play for keeps. In a game of life or death it's jackpot or bust for the player who walks away with the pearl.

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Plot Keywords:

pearl | photographer | auction | gambling | cult film | 

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1993 (USA)

Box Office

Budget:

$1,650,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Magic Studios

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A Story Of Romantic Confidence Trickery That Never Quite Holds Fast.

Dedee Pfeiffer, an undervalued actress who has found it tough going to withdraw from beneath the shadow of her celebrated sister Michelle, has nonetheless achieved substantial success in works that generally offer little in the way of viewer pleasure, such as in the instance of this moderately absorbing but hardly memorable crime flavoured melodrama that is flattened at the hands of weak direction, a limply structured script, and a lead actor suffering from deficiencies in charisma and proficiency. Cameron King (Miles O'Keefe), who is conducting an illicit gambling operation upon the top floor of his nightclub, has also illegally come into possession of the "Emperor's Pearl", a legendary gem coveted by many, and has organized a private auction for a wealthy handpicked few to submit bids upon the jewel, but several difficulties arise for King as the transfer date nears, most seemingly involving an attractive photographer, Katie (Pfeiffer) who has aggressively wormed her way into a job at the night spot, taking photographs of customers, while also gaining the close attention and romantic affection of a vulnerable Cameron. Katie enjoys a brisk business at the club, selling to patrons photos that she has taken of them, but King's predominant henchman, Sebastian (performed with villainous glee by Fred Ottaviano) is suspicious of her motives for wishing to be close to his boss and it becomes apparent that there are others as well who are clearly interested in probing King's activities, such as the local police department, the FBI, and a young newly hired bartender (Christopher Atkins) who has rallied to the moral support of Katie against Sebastian's strong feelings of distrust. Shot in Florida, and titled SHOOT upon its original VHS release, and later KING'S RANSOM, this film's principal drawback to a viewer is the scenario's lack of balance that results in a failure to emphasise sundry plot twists. O'Keefe displays his customary acting range, that of a cigar store Indian, except for those blessedly few episodes when he impersonates Clint Eastwood, while Pfeiffer handily earns the acting laurels in a work that lacks storyline impact, instead merely dwindling to an insipid conclusion.