Last Rites Randy Quaid

Last Rites Randy Quaid

 

         I stayed up until 2 AM so I could finish watching Last Rites, a pretty good cabler starring Randy Quaid and Embeth Davidtz. The movie stars Quaid as Jeremy Dillon, a serial killer who is shown in the beginning preparing for his execution. He's strapped to the chair and the electricity is on when all of a sudden lightning strikes the chair, leaving him alive but with "amnesia." A psychologist is brought in to evaluate him and pretty soon she begins to believe that he's changed, especially when he begins to have psychic powers that help the FBI in many ways.

Throughout this movie, I was wondering if Dillon's change of heart was real or a ploy to save himself. I thought Quaid did some of his best work to date portraying Dillon first as a cold blooded psychopath and then as someone repulsed by his crimes. Davidtz also was very good as the one woman who cares about him. 

        Isn't it true that we can choose to use our greatest gifts for good or evil? In this movie, a man is given a second chance to use his gifts for good. Perhaps this can be a lesson about how we should look at the murderers in our society and help them to learn how to use their gifts to save lives. Another thought-provoking movie about a man who finds truth stars Anthony Hopkins in "Instinct".

        The ending was a surprise and actually was the best one they could have had. I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a decent thriller that doesn't rely on gore. You can probably find it at Hollywood Video or Blockbuster.

Actors: Randy Quaid, Embeth Davidtz, A Martinez, Clarence Williams III, Jack Coleman

Directors: Kevin Dowling

Writers: Richard Outten, Tim Frost

Producers: John V. Stuckmeyer, Judith Craig Marlin, Samuel Benedict, Sydell Albert

Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC

Rated: R (Restricted)

Number of tapes: 1

Studio: Universal Studios

VHS Release Date: June 8, 1999

Run Time: 90 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

ASIN: B00000IQVG

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #11,683 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)