The Stickup [DVD]

Why did I change my mind?

Mainly, I wondered what would happen to Natalie (Leslie Stefanson). Maybe what I had read about film heroines was out of date, but I was worried. She picks up a total stranger in a bar! Surely fate will punish her!

Yet I hoped that her rather drunken one-night stand with Parker (James Spader) would turn into something special. He is extremely sexy (you worked out why I was watching it in the first place!), yet also tidy! Alas, he then ambushes her, grabbing her around the throat. That cannot be a good sign.

True, the film has flaws. For example, the tiny scene at the petrol station marks a flashback, but this is not immediately clear. There are too many coincidences. Not Natalie's profession (that's kismet), but the cash till incident? Please!

The ending would be even better had we seen the finder of the stolen money receive a reward (in accordance with the wishes of the person who hid it!). Plus, I hope that writer-director Rowdy Herrington did not intend to suggest that Natalie would have driven whilst intoxicated.

However, these faults are cancelled out by the marvellous scene when the injured limp away. In a rather subtle manner, Herrington has set up situations where the good guys (whoever they are!) are jeopardised for not using more force. It is refreshing that death and injury are taken seriously.

Herrington, who has worked with Spader before ("Jack's Back") and since ("I Witness"), makes good use of his leading man's talent for playing mysterious characters who may be evil, or not. The whole cast is good, especially Stefanson and David Keith (as Natalie's ex).

Go on! Watch this! I would lend you my copy, but I think the lovely people at amazon would prefer you to buy one from them.

(This review refers to the ex-rental VHS version.)