Tall, Dark and Deadly (1995 TV Movie) User Reviews

Gripping and intense

[unseeniche · 6/10 · 30 May 2002]

Although this TV movie has not been paid much attention, and I did catch it on TV way after it ever came out, 'Tall, Dark and Deadly' is reasonably impressive being such a small project.

The plot itself is excellent, however simple, I can't think of any movie such a story has been used for. The musical score is quite catchy, again, it's simple, but it adds on well to the action in the movie and the building suspense. It's basically all about plot, almost like going on the ride for yourself, and within thirty minutes the movie is quite addictive. The story issues are broad, ranging from murder and obsession to blackmail and intense scenes of fear.

I do have a few complaints about the movie, for example, not all the plot is good. It barely touches on the sexual themes it presents which would be a much bigger deal given the situation. It also didn't explain the way things worked out in the end in detail, so I was left in confusion. There are a few plot holes, but nothing noticeable while in the midst of its suspense.

I recommend this film to just about anyone. 6/10

when an educated woman stopped thinking from brain. .. and start thinking from her V.

[afterdarkpak · 5/10 · 1 March 2020]

A good movie with somehow a little weird performance , but anyhow its a 90s movie , so it doesnt matter.

this movie doesnt consider as EROTIC thriller , as there is no nude or much sex scenes.

The Perils of Dating a Homicidal Maniac

[Uriah43 · 5/10 · 27 July 2023]

This film essentially begins with a young woman by the name of "Maggie Springer" (Kim Delaney) breaking up with her boyfriend "Sam Harrison" (Todd Allen) who is moving to Alabama to start a new business. After a few months she meets someone named "Roy Calvin" (Jack Scalia) and quickly falls head over heels for him. After spending a couple of nights together, however, he begins to become quite controlling and as a result she decides to break up with him. The problem is that he is a homicidal maniac, and he doesn't take rejection well at all. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this movie started off rather well but as the film progressed things became more and more implausible--to the point that the last 15 minutes or so were completely ridiculous. But that's Hollywood for you. Be that as it may, in spite of the increasingly nonsensical plot, I thought Kim Delaney put in a solid performance for the most part and I have rated this movie accordingly.

One of my favorite Scalia movies

[hawk-58 · 7/10 · 19 February 2005]

Definitely a low-budget effort, but I thought the filmmakers did quite well with their limitations, and it has a GREAT plot. I have seen this movie many times (and in fact own it), and my girlfriends love it, too. Scalia plays charming well, then descends into the Date From Hell very convincingly. True, no motivation for his character's actions is ever given, but maybe that would have gotten in the way of the action and suspense. My women friends and I were very impressed with Kim Delaney's performance, and the fact that she wasn't another simpering, victimized female. She kicked ASS! When he chained her to the sink, who could not cheer her on and be amazed at her resilience? As mentioned, the opening scene is terrific. I also like the scene where Kim finds out what Calvin's profession is! Wow. Pretty scary stuff. I give this one 7/10 and consider it one of Scalia's best. With higher production values and a bigger budget, this one could have been more successful. Too bad he never gets the big-budget pictures, because I think he is a highly underrated actor.

Good cast and story

[phd_travel · 7/10 · 19 February 2019]

Many similar obsessive lover movies have graced Lifetime since but this one from some time ago is better than the subsequent pale imitations.

Kim Delaney looks beautiful and acts well as an architect who falls for a crazy guy played by Jack Scalia who kills for her. He turns out to be a cop.

Good acting and plausible story. The ending is quite exciting.

scalia...sexy and sinister

[darran300 · 8/10 · 28 June 2005]

this is a good example of the middle aged scalia escaping the cocky pretty boy hero stuff of his younger years. i have to say hes an actor (perhaps a gift too as a model), to age with dignity and still stay very sexy, but here given the chance to be sinister also..and he jumps from sexy to pure evil well, you wish he was your new boyfriend too...if it wasn't for the matter he kills and stalks !!!

an underrated TV movie classic, the plot wasn't new but it was given class and moments of inventive style. the other comments of the fact he has no reason to be the way he is, missed the chat he had of his mother and his relationship with his father....don't want to spoil the plot but i think your find its the old chestnut of being a bit of the Oedipus complex and neglect, well thats what i found it said anyhow

She totally got what she deserved

[rooseveltfranklin1982 · 14 December 2006]

Personally I didn't feel one bit sorry for the broad for one second throughout this film. At the beginning of the movie when she's at that nightclub, she's approached by a guy who has a few extra pounds on him, who tells her she's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. Then she says "I'm with someone" and walks away. Then notices this guy loaded with muscle and goes for him. Newsflash to everyone. LOOKS ARE NOT EVERYTHING and if there is any lesson to be learned in this movie, it's that. She was a little snot and got everything she deserved. She should have been killed at the end of the movie, because that would have made it a whole lot better.

A well-paced thriller

[newslogger44 · 7/10 · 20 April 2017]

***Spoiler Alert***

The opening, slow-motion scene seemed too much like one of those overly-done dream segments--a common tactic used in such films. Would such a graphic photo of a corpse be shown on the front page of a newspaper?

True, Kim Delaney was believable in that she kept her head for the most part, managing figure out how to escape from her shackles and to utilize various diversionary tactics to elude her pursuer.

I thought, however, that the slow pacing and deliberately anticipatory background music in the police station scene where Kim realizes that her assailant was in fact a cop was a dead giveaway because the "surprise" was telegraphed to the viewer too soon. I knew almost immediately what was about to occur. Instead, they should have had Kim open his office door and upon seeing him seated at his desk, gasp: "You!" and then run from the building. But, of course, that would have eliminated most of the subsequent drama.

I must admit, too, that I took great pleasure every time the nasty cop was dealt a solid whack and made to suffer his clearly painful injuries as he stumbled along in his thankfully fruitless pursuit.

ah, come on, it´s not that bad

[walesgvdh · 6/10 · 3 November 2002]

the plot it tightly knit and properly worked out, maybe it´s true that there is not much of a character to be found in this movie, but hey, this film is not about characters as such, but about one sick situation!

The Last 27 Minutes

[uncatema · 8/10 · 9 February 2019]

This writer gives TD&D an 8 not because it's a good movie but because it is hilariously fun. Indeed, the last 27 minutes offer most of the ridiculousness.

The viewer can take the opportunity to make fun of the entire situation. All one has to do is make up little witty jokes and voilà! The movie is funny fun. Give it a whirl while it's still available.

You CAN judge this one by it's cover... guess who's the psycho?

[shoong · 6 November 2002]

Jack Scalia turns up again in this cruddy TV movie. Looks like he's trying to grow old gracefully! This TV movie looks cheap and it's been done time & time before. Fatal Attraction has a lot to answer for! The only good things about this late-night nonsense is the opening sequence, which has a young lady being dropped from a apartment building and the camera going around her body in slow motion as she falls. A neat trick and quite beautiful (until she smashes full pelt into a car roof that is). The other good thing is Kim Delaney who deserves better than this and in my opinion is a very under-rated actress who also radiates beauty. But then what do I know... This one gets a 3/10 on the ShoonScale, Delaney bumps it up from a 2. Shoong