I started watching this film with somewhat low expectations. I mean the video box cover looked like some typical slasher film from the 80's with its cover containing a skull embedded over a weird looking hospital. After five minutes my expectations rose, because this film is a rollercoaster ride for all one hour and forty-five minutes. It is not-stop action as we, the audience, watch both victim(Lee Grant) and murderer(Michael Ironside) cope with being prey and predator respectively. The film has some loose holes in plot and believability, but the action and pace of the film more than amply make up for its shortcomings. Lee Grant does a fine job as a somewhat older female lead, but it is Ironside's performance which is truly impressive. He is one dark, mean, cruel killer. Apparently as a child he saw his father disabled by his mother, and then grew up with this hatred of strong females(of which Grant is one as a media celebrity). His flashback sequences are abstract and never fully explained, but Ironside really conveys the hate, fear, and emotional void with a thorough performance. Most of his role is done with little speech. Linda Purl(lovely as ever) gives a nice performance too. Oh!...William Shatner has a role in this too. His part is pretty useless, as is his performance. Credit must also be given to director Jean-Luc Lord and his wonderful ability to pace and use hackneyed plot contrivances and horror cliches with an amazing freshness. A scary, disturbing film!
Review of Visiting Hours
