Simply Perfect

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Unsuccessful in killing an outspoken television reporter, a cleaner continues to stalk his victim in hospital in this thriller from Canada. The film begins well, full of voyeuristic hand-held camera-work that places us in his shoes, eerily sharp sounding record and moody music. The attack at lead actress Lee Grant's house is effectively drawn out too as we experience her terror for minutes on end. Subsequent scenes also come with bite as he pretends to be a hospital orderly and even a surgeon, yet the film derails in its final hour as focus awkwardly shifts away from Grant's overwhelming fear and paranoia. Michael Ironside as her stalker ultimately gets more screen time. He is sinister enough, but it is not a juicy enough character to sustain the film alone. Linda Purl as Grant's nurse gets more screen time than her too. Again, this seems great since she is fantastic and has quite a complex character in between raising two kids while in a lesbian relationship. The fact that Ironside suddenly takes to stalking her rather than Grant never makes sense though; same goes for all the others he kills since he actually has a reason for wanting Grant! That said, everything culminates in a fantastic silent, protracted face-off between Grant and Ironside and the film remains atmospheric even when the plot derails. This is, however, a film for which the promotional poster is arguably better than the movie itself.

I'll start by saying that the slasher film genre is one of my least favourites. This is generally because, after a few excellent movies, the films that flooded the 1980s all became derivative, repetitive, and downright boring. The only thing you could look forward to in these movies were the gory special effects, where the oh-so-annoying teenage victims finally got their just desserts. But just occasionally you'll find a slasher flick that transcends the genre and becomes more than just a routine bloodbath; I'm pleased to say that VISITING HOURS is such a film. Instead of a faceless monster stalking young girls, instead we get a psychological slasher film which explores the character of its antagonist – the stalker/murderer who hates women, thanks to a childhood incident – and the protagonist, an outspoken reporter trapped in a hospital and waiting to be attacked.The film is leisurely paced and takes a while to get going, and there are a lot of sub-plots getting in the way before we get to the conclusion. Despite this, the production values are good and the script realistic. Although the film does contain its fair share of clichés and predictable moments, it always feels more realistic and more horrible than most in the genre. In some ways it feels like a less-weird David Cronenberg movie, with the almost clinical detachment from the action; maybe it's just some vibe that Canadian horror movies possess.The film's success is mainly a result of the casting. Without Michael Ironside, I can't imagine this film being half as good. In a mostly silent performance, Ironside creates a totally cold, ruthless, and downright frightening personality, a maladjusted killer who has great intelligence but a corrupted mind. Ironside is fantastic. I always admire the actor and his performances but here he just goes off the board with his subdued portrayal. Far better than hammy Anthony Hopkins and his Hannibal Lector and Kevin Spacey and his clever-clever killer. In fact I would consider this Ironside's finest moment.The rest of the cast are adequate but can't match Ironside. Lee Grant is an unusual choice as the female lead but she makes a pretty good job of it and at least proves to be something more than the blonde bimbo. William Shatner lurks around the sidelines but doesn't get to do anything, worse luck. The various stalking sequences are very atmospheric and suspenseful and the final cat-and-mouse chase in the hospital is up there with the best of them. It's just a shame that the cold subject matter and horrific images (Ironside photographing the slowly dying old woman) are too much to handle for some viewers. Get past them and you have a great little film in your hands.

Visiting Hours has a fairly typical slasher premise, with an insane killer stalking a woman confined to the hospital after one of his attacks. It features many of the same tropes, such as characters making incredibly stupid decisions and a Freudian explanation for the killer. It turns out above average, though, based largely on Michael Ironside's presence.Although this is clearly a B-movie with mainly stock characters, Michael Ironside treats the material with the same seriousness as a big budget thriller like The Silence of the Lambs. He brings his character, a misogynistic murderer, a depth and menace most slasher villains did not achieve, particular in 1982, when most were Michael Myers clones.The film also engages with serious themes of misogyny, framing the killer's violence in terms of his hatred of women. Although many slasher movies deal in this theme, Visiting Hours brings it to the surface, making Lee Grant's protagonist an ardent feminist and featuring several strong female characters. It also points out the ugliness of misogyny with a graphic rape scene, which most likely led to the film's banning as a Video Nasty in the UK.The film does have some flaws typical of the slasher genre. William Shatner's character is dull, in part because of his lackluster performance. (Luckily, although he has top billing, he actually has a small part.) However, Ironside makes this a film well worth seeing.

This is a movie I seen as a teen that gave me the creeps - and I think of this film every time I go to a hospital *shivers*.The movie is a thriller and has some slasher type qualities to it. Most people do not identify this film as a slasher film I guess because it did not have 10 sequels after the first.If you have a love for horror/thrillers then you may like Visiting Hours. The movie seems to be underground these days and should be brought back into the "must see horror arena". It is quite chilling and will leave you on the edge of your seat.I have to agree with other reviews I've read on Visiting Hours that maybe the reason this film is so underrated is because Bill Shatner is in the film. William has played other movie and TV roles quite well but most people only see him as Kirk and cannot shake that image - he's been wrongfully stereotyped. Shatner's role in this film was good! Do not let your love or dislike of William Shatner keep you from watching and, maybe, enjoying this film.8.5/10