Movie Review: A Killing Affair

A Killing Affair 

Starring: Peter Weller, Kathy Baker, John Glover, Bill Smitrovich, Rhetta Hughes, Amy Fields, Richard Westrick, Trevor Jackson, Susie Hall, Sandi Brannon, Bob Hannah, Joel Simon, Edward Potter Haggard, Curt Walters, Mert Hatfield, Stuart Culpepper, Nicole Anderson-Ellis, George H. Hammett Jr., Victoria Loving, Danny Nelson, Lana Sloniger, Wallace Wilkinson, Bill Fleet, John Bradley 

Director: David Saperstein 

Tomorrow Entertainment, USA, 1986. 

This movie can be found in Fuel Injected Films 20 Movie Collection by Mill Creek Entertainment. 

Based on Robert Houston's novel "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday". 

In Parrish, West Virginia 1943, nasty mill manager Pink Gresham (Bill Smitrovich) exploits his workers. One day he tricks some job seekers including Baston Morris (Peter Weller). He also cheats his wife Maggie (Kathy Baker, best known for "Picket Fences"). The family lives on an secluded island and they have two kids Bessie (Amy Fields) and Warren (Richard Westrick). 

Pink Gresham

Maggie

Warren and Bessie

Kathy sends the kids to town with their uncle Sheb Sheppard (John Glover) who is a fundamentalist preacher. Someone chops up Pink with an axe. Kathy asks help from neighbour Vinia (Rhetta Hughes). Vinia does not help because she has to take care of her children. Vinia's baby was already killed by pack of wild dogs. 

Sheb Sheppard

Vinia

Pack of wild dogs roam the island

Baston comes to Kathy's house to ask about Mr. Gresham. Then Baston returns and collects all the weapons from the house. He says that he killed Mr. Gresham in self defense. Baston stays in the house and helps Kathy with household work. He also saves Kathy from attack of dogs. Baston says that he knows that Kathy's dad (Stuart Culpepper) locked his wife (Lana Sloniger) in a shack and she died of tuberculosis after she had tried to run away with another man. Baston says his wife and kids were also about to leave him. 

Baston Morris

Mr. Sheppard

Church of Parrish

When Sheriffs and Shep come to search for Pink, Baston hides himself. Shep says that Baston's family were murdered after wife was about to run away with Pink. Baston blames Pink for the killings. Kathy begins to sympathize with Baston. But is Baston really a falsely accused avenger or a dangerous psychopath?

The movie is good rural thriller, with solemn score by John Barry. The movie paints a bleak picture about women's position in 1940s rural America, as women are nothing more than men's property. Peter Weller portrays well a two-sided man. If you liked "Fried Green Tomatoes" you might want to check out this little suspense flick too. 

Rating: Good