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Dead Women In Lingerie
Directed By Erica Fox
Released: 1991
Starring: John Romo, Maura Tierney, Jerry Orbach, and Dennis Christopher
DVD Released By MTI Hove Video 2005
Running Time: 86 minutes
Molly Field (Maura Tierney) works as a designer in a lingerie factory. When the factory’s models start turning up dead, wearing her designs. The police, including Detective Lapin (Dennis Christopher), are clueless as well as indifferent, so Molly hires Nick (John Romo), the private eye, to help solve the case. As a romance blossoms between Molly and Nick, more models begin turning up dead. When Molly becomes a target for the killer, Nick must protect her from a killer that seems to be one step ahead of them every time.
Producer and director, Erica Fox (who worked on Night Of The Creeps!) is behind this very odd thriller. This film is part comedy, thriller, and social commentary. These parts hardly make a cohesive whole but the comedy bits and the thriller bits are done well. The message of the film deals in the plight of the migrant worker. The pace of the film grinds to a halt while characters make speeches about the unfair treatment of America’s downtrodden workforce.
John Romo’s private eye character, Nick, is a charming fellow seemingly transported from another era entirely. His goofy but slightly seedy nature harkens back to film noir with some bizarre moments of physical comedy thrown in. Maura Tierney is cute as Molly Field but has the worst wardrobe I’ve ever seen her in. Luckily for her and us she can be seen without the hideous early 90s garb (albeit briefly).
Even more surprising than the film wearing its bleeding heart on its sleeve is the presence of Lyle Waggoner and June Lockhart as Molly’s parents. How these two got involved is anyone’s guess. Whatever the reason, Lyle Waggoner will always raise my opinion of any film he graces his presence with. Jerry Orbach doesn’t get enough screen time and is wasted in this film. Dennis Christopher (It, Necronomicon) is great as the jerky and antagonistic Detective Lapin.
Dead Women In Lingerie is one of the most perplexing films I’ve ever seen. It’s a hybrid of so many things that the film can be disorienting but pleasantly so thanks to the comic relief of John Romo. Fans of crime films may be a little annoyed by the tameness with which the murders are committed but there is a nice bludgeoning. The movie is oddly charming but it is hindered by its overt political message.
For more information, check out MTI Home
Video.
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