Hot Target (1985)

"Hot Target" comes with several interesting aspects attached to it. For starters, it seems to be an attempt to be a modern day film noir, inspired by films like "Double Indemnity" and "The Postman Always Rings Twice" though having "R" rated elements like nudity and sex. It's also interesting that this film's focus is on the woman, instead of the man. As well, it's interesting that this time around the movie is not American, and is instead an English/New Zealand co-production and set in New Zealand (not England, as some previous user comments have stated.) No doubt this movie had the potential to be entertainingly different, though the actual execution makes it anything but. For starters, while this was made for theaters, it sure doesn't look like it - it has a cheap British made-for-TV feel throughout, and the music score also has this feeling. Second, in several aspects the movie's plot is too close for its own good to another modern day film noir ("Body Heat"). But what really sinks the movie is its weak tone - it never comes across as terribly sexy, terribly tense, or terribly mysterious. And it's capped with an ending that's far from satisfying and raises questions that are never answered. Apparently these filmmakers didn't look carefully at past film noirs to know that you don't just need certain elements - they have to also be well executed.

As has been noted, this is part of a Crown International series, almost all of which contain the same scenes of nudity and lovemaking, all surrounded by ho hum plots. Those were the USA offerings. "Hot Target" is a New Zealand offering starring absolutely stunning Simone Griffeth, an American lass now, with her husband, selling expensive real estate in South Carolina. And, she is a damn good actress. Those love scenes could, and should have been, more abbreviated and it would have appealed to a more general audience - well - not the Pixar enthusiasts. Anyway, all the palaver about the plot is a lot of horseradish. It was easy to understand, the story tight and taut. The acting by all involved was first class. Steve Marachuk, the only other American in the cast, was excellent as the cad. All involved turned in excellent performances. Anyway, ignore the naysayers and, if you can get hold of this, grab it. I guarantee it will keep you involved for at least 92 of its 93 minutes.

I'm not sure what this film is completely about. The film has a woman getting some much need spice and romance in her life after meeting a 'nice" man only to find that there is something else on his mind. The trouble is that the film seems to be more interested in the sex than it is in the plot. It might have been me but this film seemed to spend too much time watching bodies entwine and talking about things that really aren't necessary to plot for any real interest to be maintained. Don't get me wrong I don't mind watching pretty people in an erotic thriller do their stuff, but don't tell me its a thriller when the plot only seems to kick in until the last half hour or so. For my money this is little more than a soft-core romance wannabe. Probably slightly better than the 3 out of 10 I've rated it but that still isn't a reason to see it. Take a pass.

Billed as a thriller in the spirit of "Body Heat", this film was only available on video in North America -- not surprising, since it is very thin on plot and very heavy on heavy breathing. Loaded with gratuitous nudity, Hot Target will appeal to anyone who is looking for titillation. The American cat-burglar, like the rest of the film's characters, is laughable; there is actually a little bit of entertainment value in the stunningly horrid dialogue. You need only look at the filmography of the cast members to see what a fabulous piece of work can do to a life in film - like, say, end it.Basically, it's 100 minutes of horizontal jogging under the flimsiest pretenses - great, if you like that sort of thing. If you were looking for a thriller "in the spirit of 'Body Heat,'" then I suggest you see Body Heat.Direct-to-video. Kills careers - dead.