Sadly Over-hyped

Charming and brutal

Beautiful, moving film.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

For those of you who haven't yet seen "Lying in Wait," please let me take a moment to list for you some props used by Rutger Hauer. Accordion - Rutger Hauer plays the accordion on more than one occasion, one of which is a seduction scene. The other accordion scene occurs in the waning hours of a sexy party, complete with upright jazz bass accompaniment.Cold hard cash - Rutger Hauer flashes a substantial wad of money he then bets on a horse. It's perhaps the most exciting moment of the first half of the movie.Red helmet - Rutger Hauer wears a red helmet, the type the severely retarded or hyperactive will wear. After wearing the helmet a few times, he then dons non-protective headwear, specifically a woolen ski cap. Motorized wheelchair - Rutger Hauer, avec woolen ski cap, implausibly forces another character over her own balcony by ramming her with his motorized wheelchair. Keep in mind this is a 3 1/2 foot balcony designed to keep people from falling, yet Rutger's wheelchair employs a type of metaphysics to thrust (was it Lois?) over, through, the railing to her doom below. Thomas Newton - Rutger Hauer uses actor Thomas Newton as a sort of personal hand puppet while the two of them excitedly watch a horse race. The action is thinly implied, yet when one advances the film frame by frame, one can almost see an expression of terror momentarily flash across Newton's face. It is the unmistakable look of doom caused by having a big, old Dutchman's fist in his rectum.Urea - Rutger Hauer goes to an art opening and pees on the floor from his motorized wheelchair, causing the uncaring art crowd to titter. While not technically a prop (urea may be considered a special effect,) it is an artistic choice agreed upon by the screenwriter, director, producer, art department, financiers, etc. and executed by Mr. Hauer in a convincing fashion. Motorized wheelchair redux - Rutger Hauer pushes a TV actor into a swimming pool using the wheelchair, pinning the man to the bottom and drowning him. For all you doubters, know that there's more than just one way to kill with wheels. Paraplegics rejoice! You are the rolling hurt machines of woe for us all.Bloody Nose - Rutger Hauer has a bloody nose in the penultimate scene. It trickles into his mouth and gets on his teeth. Note - Rutger Hauer spends over half of this movie in a persistent vegetative state and the fact that he's able to use props at all is remarkable.Listing props is the only way to get through the movie. Good luck.

This Film Impressed Me. It hit all of the Essential Categories that Make a Classic. Horror, Suspense, Drama, Romance, and Thrills. This film had it ALL! It was way Better than "Scream", And I Think It could only be Compared to "Silence of the Lambs". It's Good. 10 out of 10. Also Recommended: The Gardener (AKA: Garden of Evil).

This is an abysmal film, totally lacking in suspense and peopled by characters I couldn't give a flying fig about. The actors move and speak like marionettes, as if they can't wait to get off-camera. Not surprising really, since you can hardly see them in the murky photography. Add insipid music and silly plot development and you have the kind of movie experience it's well worth the trouble of avoiding. Rating: 1/10

Although I'm not sure this film works as a thriller, it is an effective character study. Babee is the reclusive son of a late television star who lives alone in a large, somewhat decrepit, Hollywood mansion. His only friend is a beautiful young neighbor who grew up with him. His life changes drastically when a troubled couple (Rutger Hauer and Virginia Madsen) moves in next door. Hauer's amoral character, Keith Miller, decides to tutor Babee in the finer things in life (drinking, gambling and women). After Miller is severely brain damaged in an accident, Babee becomes his caretaker. When Miller's enemies start dying, however, Babee becomes convinced that Miller is faking his injury. Although most people could predict the ending around the beginning of the movie, "Lying in Wait" is well made and the acting is very good.