Cruel and Unusual (2001) User Reviews

Psycho-killer movie with suspense, tension and colorful Canadian landscapes

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 3 October 2007]

This Canadian film starts with Art Stone(Tom Berenguer),he's a stranger with a magnetic personality.He results to be a psycho-killer who killed several people from South Carolina till Washington State.The psycho is picked up hitch-hiking on the roadway by a professor(Gabay) going to an Oregon watchtower.Stoner takes his identity and one time in the fishing village, he befriends two brothers, Kate(Rachel Hayward), an attractive spinster and Mike(Tygh Runyan), a troubled young man.

This independent picture packs suspense, thriller, sensational outdoors and stunning performances. However contains some moments little boring and slow movement, furthermore a strong sexual scenes, for that reason is rated ¨R¨ for sexuality and language. Nice acting for starring pair, Tom Berenguer and Rachel Hayward, and enjoyable Tygh Runyan who plays with his guitar on the summit of the lighthouse, because he's actually a singer, playing in a Vancouver experimental band. The film displays a glimmer cinematography by Peter Benison, filmed in locations of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The motion picture is regularly directed by George Mihalka who had previously directed similar stories( Psychic, Relative fear).He's usually movies television director( Crossbow, Da Vinci's inquest, Windsor protocol) and occasionally motion pictures director (Bullet to Beijing, the return of Harry Palmer). Rating : Average but entertaining for serial-killers genre buffs.

Good Berenger performance in an average film

[ODDBear · 5/10 · 26 December 2005]

Tom Berenger playing a serial killer! That's something new and since I'm a huge fan of this underrated actor I was very eager to get my hands on this flick. Did it disappoint? Not really, but it's far from being anything special. Berenger plays a homicidal drifter who assumes the identity of his latest victim, a professor, and heads to a small community where he gets involved with a local woman and her brother. As his relationship with the woman progresses her brother becomes more and more suspicious of him and it's only a matter of time before things get nasty. A semi well written character study of a psychopath which sadly doesn't delve too deeply into his motivations, and thus, leaving the viewer wanting more. Berenger, as always, does well with his role but the fact is it's an underdeveloped one and therefore doesn't have the intended impact. The end conclusion is mostly satisfying but overall the film is long-winded, has stereotypical supporting characters, particularly the brother, and ultimately fails mostly in the suspense department along with being very predictable. In the end Berenger elevates the film with his performance and one is left with the impression that this film could have been so much better. Sadly it's just average.

Vancouver Island Locations the Real Star of So-Called "Erotic Thriller"

[wonderdawg · 6/10 · 5 November 2009]

"You should see this place I'm going to. It's one in a million," Professor Adam Durrell (Eli Gabay) tells his passenger (Tom Berenger). The prof doesn't know it yet but he is never going to see his favorite getaway. You see, the hitch-hiker he picked up is a serial killer who assumes the identities of his victims. Posing as the now deceased Durrell the charming psycho pulls into a little coastal community in search of fresh prey. He targets lonely vulnerable Kate (Rachel Hayward) and her troubled kid brother Mike (Tygh Runyon) for a violent death. However, this time he may have met his match. Although the cast delivers competent performances the picturesque Cowichan Valley locations (doubling for Oregon) are the real stars in an otherwise routine entry in the tired 'erotic thriller' genre.

An underrated, superbly photographed psycho-thriller with sophisticated undercurrents.

[TheVid · 15 November 2002]

All the performances here are very good, and the eerie tone of this movie, about a serial murderer and his effect on the people he encounters, becomes it's driving force (as opposed to the usual cat-and-mouse, thriller premise). The motivations of the protagonists are subtly explored, and the movie is awash with sexual tension and scenic texture. The chess-game scene is remarkably creepy and effective. This little murder story is highly recommended for discriminating adults.

Foggy Bottom

[sol-kay · 5/10 · 9 March 2004]

**MAJOR SPOILERS** The movie starts out with an almost unrecognizable Tom Berenger, Art Stoner, with a beard and shoulder length hair being in bed with his awe-struck, Art's a big ladies man, girlfriend Cindy, Elizabeth Carol Savenkoff,and before you know it plunges a knife into her ribs.

The next morning Art, minus his beard and long hair, is picked up hitch-hiking on the highway by Adam Terrell, Eli Gabay, who's a teacher on his sabbatical going to an Oregon lighthouse to write a book. At the first chance that he has to get Terrell alone when they stop for a rest Stoner again plunges a knife into his ribs and with his car and identity drives to the lighthouse where Terrell rented a place to stay for the summer.

It turns out that Stoner is a serial murderer who murdered some twelve persons from South Carolina to Washington State with the local police and FBI hot on his tail. Up to now your interested in the movie and wonder whats coming up next with the deadly Stoner on the loose in the Great Pacific North West but when he gets to the Oregon lighthouse the movie starts to all apart.

Stoner ends Living at the lighthouse with Kate O'Conner, Rachel Hayward, and her troubled brother Mike, Tygh Runyn, who's on probation for assault. Like most serial killers Stoner has a split personality where he can be kind and gentle as well as personable as he is with Kate and at the same time vicious and brutal as he is with Mike. Even though at one point in the movie Stoner saves Mike from drowning he beats him up for the smallest reasons, It gets to the point where Mike is almost about to break his parole to not only run away from the lighthouse but leave his sister alone with the unstable and crazy Stoner.

With the exception of the first fifteen minutes or so the movie, excuse the pun, just doesn't cut it. You just don't seem to know just what Stoner is all about in his relations with Kate and Mike at the lighthouse because his actions were totally out of character with what he did up to then. Being cunning enough to keep ahead of the police as they chased him across the USA why would he stick himself in one place for six weeks when he knows that the cops are closing in on him! even with his poster, with beard and long hair, all over the town?

Having assumed the identity of Terrell why did Stoner keep a photo of him with the cap that Stoner was always wearing right in the open where it could easily be spotted by both Kate and Mike? In fact Mike did find the incriminating photo and told his sister Kate about it. Kate who's an artist and drew a picture of Stoner did later see the wanted poster and recognized it as being him but for some strange reason didn't think of getting in touch with the police? Stoner kills Mike, off camera, as he's about to tell Kate that he's a serial murderer and later in the movie Kate who already got wind of Stoner intentions stabs him as he's about to murder her as we see him fall into cold waters of the foggy bay by the lighthouse.

Not being able to find him after searching the bays bottom the police assume that Stoner couldn't have survived the cold waters after being there for more then fifteen minutes and you assume that the movie is over. But just then we see Stoner all dressed up in leather and in the pink of health driving Mikes motorcycle as he drops Kate a letter about following her advice and changing and you get the impression that he changed into Mike.

Even if you want to believe that Stoner being stabbed and surviving the ice cold Pacific waters around the lighthouse for hours if not days how could he have recovered so fast without any medical attention? Unlike Jason of Friday the 13th and Michael Myers of Halloween there was nothing in the movie to indicate that Stoner had superhuman or supernatural powers? or was there?

Truly Dismal

[angushome · 1/10 · 13 October 2009]

Possibly the worst movie I have ever watched - it feels and sounds like it was written, directed and produced by a committee of talentless sixteen year old boys who think that by generating a sense of menace they have achieved enough and need do no more. In fairness, the actors do the best they can.

The music was dreadful, the scenes of a guitar-playing, angst-ridden youth practicing with his electric guitar were comically clichéd. The characters were without depth. Themes which might have been explored were treated like like footnotes - Kate's childhood and abusive father, the first victim's apparent death-wish. No attempt was made to understand or explain the principal character. Even the beautiful location was grossly under-used.

The only positive note is that it made me realize how much worse other films could be.

Starts Out Interesting, But Sputters

[Jakealope · 4/10 · 10 December 2004]

The movie had a good concept, about a serial killer on the move. It avoids excessive bloodshed and sensational mastermind manuevers and honks which plagues most serial killer flicks. This killer adopts the identity of the last victim, who is a prof on sabbatical going to man a lonely lighthouse and write a book. So our killer, Berenger ends up in a lonely fishing village with a troubled youth on parole and his independent fisher-woman sister. There is some interesting tension and not so innocent honks while he is there. He controls and influences the impressionable and weak youth while putting the make on his sister. But it fizzled out, like they established a good mood and couldn't figure out a way to end it. Also, the feedback acid guitar soundtrack, based on the kids guitar playing, was pointless and annoying. It had potential, but let me down.

It's Cruel & Unusual Punishment to View This Film

[mycatslyone · 2/10 · 20 May 2005]

I like Berenger but he was frightening in this. In the beginning of the film, we see him laying in bed with long hair (obviously a wig) & a 'long woman'. And that's it for her part. She's a goner. He preys next on a man he picks up on the road w/car problems. He assumes his identity & that's it for him, too. He's a goner. What he does next to a young guy at a lighthouse he stays at is just brutal. He also lets himself be the object of the kids' sisters' affection & those scenes I hate. But they give us a glimpse into his past of why he seems so distant at times. A violent, unfeeling switch goes off in his head at unusual moments. It all has to do with his upbringing & I think he needs to be committed. Because he's not, he gets into trouble, hurting people along the way. No, I don't like this one. I don't know why this film had All Along the Watchtower as it's title & then it became Cruel & Unusual. Or maybe I do...

Not bad for direct to video.

[mm-39 · 6/10 · 13 June 2002]

This film is one of those direct to video movie. They get a middle weight name like Tom, and try to sell it using his name. Well this isn't that bad like most direct of video movie, actual it's ok. Tom is a good actor, and the script is ok. It's not a high budget, and they got a scene that looks like one of those West Coast Canadian Rock video's. (ie Chalk Circle) Well, rent it, it won't kill you. 6/10

All along the watchtower

[dbdumonteil · 5/10 · 11 April 2005]

Brother Mike and sister Kate have lost their father and the boy finds it hard to get over this death.Kate finds him a job on a watchtower while she's busy fishing.Alas he has to team up with an impostor,a serial killer(Berenger).

Tom Berenger is the only reason why you'd like to watch this umpteenth story of another Jack the Ripper.He's a very earnest thespian and he tries his best to give the audience an in-depth performance,complete with miserable childhood and paradoxical (and a bit childish) philosophy.His relationship with Kate is so predictable I will not mention it;but with the boy,it's a different matter.He feels the boy's need for a substitute (no pun intended as far Berenger is concerned).And it's really too bad the relationship Mike/Art is only skimmed over.

The film is marred by an absurd ending,although the last words do not lack black humor."I have changed" it reads.He has.indeed.

Great Thriller

[luvtom-2 · 10/10 · 4 May 2002]

One of the best of Tom Berenger's latest. It should have had a theatrical release. He plays a hero or villain equally well. This one sent chills down my spine, and even though they let the viewer know who the killer was in the beginning, it still had a surprise ending. Editing was excellent, too. I wish we'd see more of this talented actor!

Although Full of Cliches, A Reasonable Movie

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 25 April 2004]

Art Stoner (Tom Berenger) is a serial killer, who becomes friend of his victims before killing them, and assuming their identity after their deaths. After killing and assuming the identity of a professor of an university, he moves to work as watchtower in a coastal city. There, he becomes a close friend of his colleague Mike O'Conner (Tygh Runyan), a young man in probation. He starts dating Mike's sister, Kate (Rachel Hayward), who is a single woman of thirty and something years and owns of a fishing vessel. In order to avoid spoilers, I will not make any further comments. This movie is a reasonable entertaining for killing time. Full of clichés, it seems to be some sort of standard screenplay available for producers. The modifications in the script of this type of movies are minimum and combined among them. However, this one is well produced, has a good soundtrack and the good actor (although very fat) Tom Berenger. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Um Estranho na Torre' (`A Stranger in the Tower')

Watch your time and your money!

[gazineo-1 · 3/10 · 11 November 2002]

Increbibly bad and boring thriller about a serial killer (Berenguer) who came to work in a lighthouse in a little town in Oregon and falls in love (if you can say so!) with a local girl. Flat plot line, weak characterizations and no real suspense made this one a waste of time and money. I give this a 3 (three).

boring drivel

[chillindog7 · 4 March 2004]

This movie was very boring. The soundtrack had nothing to do with the movie, and seemed more fitting for Top Gun. The characters were very shallow, and were not developed at all. This movie was full of stilted dialogue, and how could anyone find a fat Tom Berenger the "town's most eligible bachelor," is beyond my imagination. Be sure to watch for the ludicrious guitar playing scenes on top of the lighthouse, where there is no amp or cords or anything. A comment was made during the viewing of this movie which stated, "I could find better actors than these in an alley, dead." The "surprise" ending really wasn't a surprise, but then again I didn't even care. One out of ten stars

A moody thriller, although very slowly paced and formulaic

[Dinosaw · 5/10 · 25 August 2011]

This film seemed atmospheric and tense, but it was a little boring and the ending was anticlimactic. The music came across as intrusive and annoying - there was no point of the high pitched electric guitars used in dramatic scenes. Smoking scenes were just too much and they became distracting.

This might be recommended for thriller fans only, but people who are not in to this genre will become very bored, as this is a slow-burn type of thriller. It's mostly a drama with the brother slowly and slowly starting to suspect that the serial killer is dangerous.

Between the two there is a lot of talking scenes, and at times there is tension. There is also a erotica, between his sister and the killer, towards the middle-end of the film. I believe the whole romance between the two was forced.

The film has the annoying cliché where the main character thinks a person is crazy and his friends don't believe it (here, it's the sister), even though the main character is always right.

The ending was awful. I hated how it just abruptly ended. Who stabbed who? There was some bad editing there.

Standard plot #44

[ResistBob · 3/10 · 17 November 2002]

I had hopes for this movie, one picked out by my girlfriend for an evening of viewing. Unfortunately, it was simply a series of cliches pasted together by predictable plot and dialogue. While I fell asleep briefly during the final 1/3 of the movie (easy to do), my girlfriend assured me I missed nothing, and the 'surprise' ending was no surprise.

One the positive side, 'Watchtower' features some beautiful scenery of the Pacific Coast. Had they edited out the stilted dialogue, formulaic characters, tepid sex scenes, and improbable plot devices, this would be a pleasant 10 minute travelogue of British Columbia. 3/10

stay away

[[e-mail] · 29 November 2002]

i love Tom Berringer and i love serial killer stories but this movie was absolutely terrible. i put down like 3 other DVD's when i rented this, just for the sake of the plot description and Berringer's name. i regret it. it was a waste of time. stay away.

Not a bad movie, but not great!

[grflanders · 30 April 2003]

I enjoy watching Tom Berenger and was hopeful this film would be a good venue for him. The story wasn't bad, but what made it difficult to watch was the terrible music track for the film. The music did not fit the movie, it distracted the viewer from the film and the music matched the mood or tone of the picture. This is the first film that I've watched that I had to think what was the director and producers thinking when they selected this composer, and what was the composer thinking when he wrote the music for the film. Re-edit the soundtrack, then re-issue the movie and it would work.

The best Berenger movie I saw

[KVruleZ · 23 November 2002]

I always read other peoples' opinions and sometimes find it very strange how different the opinions are, even given the old saying about tastes being different. In my opinion, the plot and acting are very realistic and probable, and I dare say flawless. This is one the few that was really creepy. Highly recommended to those who like true-to life suspense. Give it a try on a lonely weekend when you're in the mood for something moody and eerie. I was a little sad and devastated after watching it. The ending could be fairer. But still it's a great movie.