lioninoil

Good performances (with one exception*, noted below), good story, good staging, good photography, and good dialogue (again with one exception*, noted below), this could have been a 7/10 or 8/10 movie but for that one exception: *Marc Petey (as Aiden Magnusson) and his (lack) of dialogue.

It would be reasonable (I think) to expect Eric Petey to write some decent dialogue for Marc, and get him to deliver, but no. He mostly has none, and what he does have is mostly unremarkable. It's a shame, because that single performance (by the main character) drags down the entire movie.

With apologies to the inimitable Claude Rains, I am shocked, *shocked* to find no previous comments! This three-part special marked the beginning of the televised animal shockumentary genre that continues to this day, and should be of particular interest as such. The late Robert Urich maintained a cool, even demeanour as its host, beginning the show with the warning, "The following program contains graphic footage of animals attacking humans." With a brief, conversational comment and a minimum of sensationalism he introduces each film clip, some of them home movies and some being professionally-shot (but unplanned) footage, of a variety of animal attacks on people in various situations; often he will punctuate the events as they unfold with a calm narrative. Over the course of the three shows, the animals involved include everything from ordinary household pets to fighting bulls to elephants, lions, and bears. This is classic television that should not be overlooked by students of shock film.

I bought the "Afterglow" soundtrack prior to hearing it, and to seeing the movie, because it is composed by Mark Isham and performed by Charles Lloyd -- two underheralded greats of modern music. I still congratulate myself on that purchase; this soundtrack is one of the best ever. The movie, on the other hand, was a *HUGE* disappointment. What was Alan Rudolph thinking?? The stilted dialogue, the muddled story-line, the confused editing, the glacial pace... and that ending! What was *that* about??

Do yourself a favour: go directly to the best part of the film and buy the soundtrack album. In the liner notes, Alan Rudolph wrote: "Like the glow which remains after a source of light is gone, this music is guaranteed to illuminate any place in your heart where love has been."

Amen to that.