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Perfect Prey

  • TV Movie
  • 19981998
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
379
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Perfect Prey (1998)
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A former Texas Ranger (McGillis) is recruited by a Houston police captain (Dern) to assist a homicide detective (Moffett) in the search for an elusive serial killer (David) who collects anti... Read allA former Texas Ranger (McGillis) is recruited by a Houston police captain (Dern) to assist a homicide detective (Moffett) in the search for an elusive serial killer (David) who collects antique dolls.A former Texas Ranger (McGillis) is recruited by a Houston police captain (Dern) to assist a homicide detective (Moffett) in the search for an elusive serial killer (David) who collects antique dolls.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
379
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Howard McCain
  • Writer
    • Robert McDonnell
  • Stars
    • Kelly McGillis
    • Bruce Dern
    • D.W. Moffett
Top credits
  • Director
    • Howard McCain
  • Writer
    • Robert McDonnell
  • Stars
    • Kelly McGillis
    • Bruce Dern
    • D.W. Moffett
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Kelly McGillis, Bruce Dern, and David Keith in Perfect Prey (1998)
    Perfect Prey (1998)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kelly McGillis
    Kelly McGillis
    • Audrey Macleahas Audrey Macleah
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Capt. Swaggertas Capt. Swaggert
    D.W. Moffett
    D.W. Moffett
    • Detective Jimmy Cerulloas Detective Jimmy Cerullo
    David Keith
    David Keith
    • Dwayne Alan Clayas Dwayne Alan Clay
    Joely Fisher
    Joely Fisher
    • Elizabeth Craneas Elizabeth Crane
    Richard Riehle
    Richard Riehle
    • Detective Bevlanas Detective Bevlan
    Gregg Daniel
    Gregg Daniel
    • Detective Footmanas Detective Footman
    T.J. Kennedy
    • Captain Dan Feagleras Captain Dan Feagler
    • (as Mike Kennedy)
    Tichina Arnold
    Tichina Arnold
    • Susieas Susie
    Marklen Kennedy
    Marklen Kennedy
    • Investigator Lyonsas Investigator Lyons
    C.C. Pulitzer
    • Janette Learyas Janette Leary
    Nicole Forester
    Nicole Forester
    • Patricia Atkinsas Patricia Atkins
    Judith Drake
    Judith Drake
    • Waitressas Waitress
    Maree Cheatham
    Maree Cheatham
    • Mrs. Learyas Mrs. Leary
    Thomas Crawford
    Thomas Crawford
    • Deputy #2as Deputy #2
    Dan Desmond
    • Mr. Learyas Mr. Leary
    Javier Grajeda
    Javier Grajeda
    • Deputy #1as Deputy #1
    Michael Dean Jacobs
    Michael Dean Jacobs
    • Doug Purcellas Doug Purcell
    • Director
      • Howard McCain
    • Writer
      • Robert McDonnell
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Forensic psychologist and ex-Texas Ranger Dr. Audrey MacLeah assists the police in the case of a serial killer who abducts women and holds them for a short time before he kills them. As the doll-obsessed killer hunts his next prey, MacLeah deals with inter-agency politics and her own tortured memories. —Anonymous
    • serial killer
    • antique
    • texas ranger
    • psychologist
    • doll
    • 2 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Some dolls were made by Bailey Clark and Margaret Wolf, others were from their private collections.
    • Goofs
      The Texas flag in the Ranger Captain's office is upside down.
    • Connections
      Follows When the Bough Breaks (1994)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Not bad. Worth a couple of hours of anyone's time.
    Described as a TV movie, I don't know whether "Perfect Prey" was planned as a TV pilot. Far worse have been deemed suitable for series production. I don't think this watchable piece of work got the exposure it deserved when it first appeared. This is a better than average serial killer thriller. The main characters are certainly well cast.

    Kelly McGillis is a natural as the troubled but intelligent and determined investigator, Audrey Maclean. David Keith's performance as the handsome, persuasive killer is chilling. Watching him, you can truly believe that evil is abroad and relishing the suffering of its victims. Bruce Dern does well with the part of Captain Swaggert, with murders on his hands he knows are beyond the abilities of his team to solve without the fresh eye of outside help. Interested viewers will, I'm sure, enjoy the contrast in characterization between Dern's lawman in this movie and his marvellously venal sheriff in "Last man Standing". Last but by no means least, D W Moffett shows real style with his Detective Jimmy Cerullo.

    There's a pleasing professionalism about the rest of the cast, who aren't well known. Their work helps to ensure an enjoyable movie. Particularly worth a mention is the young actress given the thankless role of the murder victim in the pink dress. With her body propped up against a nodding donkey, her frozen eyes allow a peek into hell for the imaginative movie watcher. The feeling of brooding sadness in the scene surfaces at various times during the duration of the film, and adds considerable atmosphere.

    The movie is effectively directed by Howard McCain and nicely scripted by Robert McDonnell. There's some neat editing by Hanneh Rudkilde. The rest of the crew weren't asleep on the job either. What really damages "Perfect Prey" is the marked resemblance of the plot to that of "The Silence of the Lambs", which many of its potential audience will have seen. In my opinion Kelly McGillis is a more believable investigator than the otherwise admirable Jodie Foster, but that, as they say, is neither here nor there.

    It's worth a look, seek it out next time you intend making the sofa look untidy for a couple of hours.
    helpful•9
    1
    • blue hermit
    • May 12, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • When the Bough Breaks II: Perfect Prey
    • Filming locations
      • Houston City Hall, 900 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Imperial Bank
      • Meeker/Greene Entertainment Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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