Visiting Hours [1982]

EMM# : 32078
Added: 2016-01-13

Visiting Hours (1982)
There is no known cure.....for MURDER.

Rating: 5.5

Movie Details:

Genre: Horror (Thriller)

Length: 1 h 45 min - 105 min

Video: 1920x1038 (23.976 Fps - 2 250 Kbps)

Studio: Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)| Film...(cut)

Location:

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Deborah Ballin is a controversial middle-aged TV journalist, who is campaigning on air on behalf of a battered woman who murdered her abusive husband, claiming justifiable defense against the so-called victim. But her outspoken views championing women's rights incense one of the studio's cleaning staff, closet homicidal psycho (and misogynist) Colt Hawker whose deep seated despising all all things female occurred from seeing his Mother throwing boiling oil in the face of his abusive Father when he was a small child (and who's M.O. is to photograph victims he stabs as they're spasming to death). So much so that he decides there and then to shut her up...PERMANENTLY! Managing to beat her home, he soon dispatches her maid Francine, before turning his rage onto her as she come home (greeting her in only wearing her jewelry and make-up). Despite the brutal injuries he lashes out on her, she manages to survive and is rushed off to hospital. But undaunted he catches up to her in hospital and... Written by

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Poseidon-3 from Cincinnati, OH
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There's nothing spectacular about this Canadian-made slasher flick, but it still provides a few jolts, a bit of the creeps and a few unintentional laughs. Grant plays a strong-willed TV host who's crusading for the rights of a woman accused of murdering her husband (following years of abuse from him.) Unfortunately, this ticks off loose cannon Ironside and he decides to shut Grant up...permanently. His first try doesn't quite do the trick, so he has to infiltrate her hospital to finish her off, hence the title. Purl plays a Florence Nightingale in waiting who's devotion to Grant makes her another target of Ironside. Shatner has a thankless role as Grant's producer/lover. Grant turns in her usual committed, thought-out performance, but it's for naught in a routine thriller like this. Ironside is convincingly slimy and treacherous. His almost wordless performance is effectively creepy. Purl is likable and solid in an impossibly idealized role (the lady works overtime at the hospital and volunteers at the free clinic while trying to raise two kids all with a smile on her face!) Shatner fans will be pleased to see him looking rather handsome and tan, but he doesn't get to do very much. The film has a very unsettling tone throughout, aided by an eerie score and claustrophobic settings. It also features many cliches of the genre (absence of logic in the characters, unrealistically deserted settings, sluts being punished for their sexuality, etc...) Still, it's creative enough and occasionally unpredictable enough to hold interest. Some of the acting in minor roles (notably the nurses) is weak, but Zann does a pretty decent job as a slutty date of Ironside's and the leads hold the film together (as much as they can with the somewhat contrived script.) Grant's conviction to her role and Ironside's steely determination go a long way to saving the movie.

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AngryChair from Brentwood, USA
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One of the better Canadian killer-thrillers of the 80's is this solid shocker.

TV journalist is attacked by a maniac and taken to the hospital, now the obsessive creep is determined to make sure she doesn't get well soon!

Visiting Hours is a film that, like most slasher films of the 80's, has gotten a bad reputation from critics. However this film is much more than mere slasher garbage! Visiting Hours is a thriller that takes its time to build true suspense, a well-paced plot, and some believable characters. It's a film that, unlike most of the genre, focuses upon the warped character of its villain rather than on the would-be victims. The murder sequences are effectively disturbing, but not overly gory.

The direction of Jean Claude Lord, along with an unsettling music score, combine to make an atmospheric sense of dread through out the film. It manages to make even the sprawling corridors of the hospital setting into a claustrophobic maze. It makes for some nicely suspenseful attack/chase scenes.

The biggest highlight of this film comes from its cast though. Lee Grant is strong as the feminist TV journalist that becomes the target to the killer. Linda Purl does a good turn as a caring nurse, as does Lenore Zann as a street-wise teen. Greatest of all though is villain Michael Ironside. Ironside makes for a truly creepy and compelling murderer. He truly steals the show.

For those that are seeking a slasher film with a bit more of an intelligence to it, Visiting Hours is a fine choice. Don't listen to the critics on this one folks - it's a better film than you may have heard.

*** out of ****

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Murder Slim (MurderSlimPress@aol.com) from United Kingdom
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VISITING HOURS is a largely laughed-at serial killer flick starring Michael Ironside. I suppose many of the laughs generate from William Shatner being in the film, playing a concerned boyfriend. I've never understood the fixation with Shatner as a comedy figure. Shatner is OK in his role, playing it completely straight and not completely terribly. It seems in getting fixated on the (in my view, non-existent) laughs from Shatner, viewers seem to have a blind spot to a lot of good things that VISITING HOURS achieves.

Ironside is strong as the killer (Colt Hawker), whose desire to kill comes from a terrible childhood and an abusive father. He identifies with his father, and loathes women because his mother threw boiling water over his Pa's face. Seems a bit of a stretch, but it wouldn't be the first time sometimes chosen the abuser over the person they abuse.

Colt becomes a misogynist, and turns his attention onto Deborah Ballin, who speaks out against violence towards women. She's a little militant about it and annoys a few people, so it's hard for the cops to figure out that Colt is the one hunting her down.

Some of the kill scenes are genuinely affecting. Colt likes to takes pictures of his victims as they're dying, and one - where he pulls a breathing tube from an elderly lady - is harrowing. Don't forget that Ironside was great in STARSHIP TROPPERS and brilliant in TOTAL RECALL as the supremely slimy Richter, and he excels in a similar role here. It's pretty baffling why Ironside ended up in TV series/movie hell given his excellence in playing the bad guy. Just the luck of the draw.

But the main plus of VISITING HOURS is that it's incredibly well shot. It's wildly voyeuristic, with lots of uncomfortable close-ups and point-of-view shots... and lots of lingering on people's suffering. The director - Jean-Claude Lord - has made nothing else of note. Even his name rhymes in a comedic way. Lord started out in France, then ended up doing US TV movies. But VISITING HOURS has a slight Hitchcock vibe and the level of voyeurism that makes you feel a little grubby just watching the damn movie.

I'm not saying VISITING HOURS is a classic. It's not up there with HENRY, and it's not up there with the next rung of excellent serial killer movies... say something like ANGST or HIGHWAYMEN. The pacing is a little laboured, and there are passages of ropey dialogue. But VISITING HOURS is a very good movie. It certainly is stupidly underrated, and is definitely worth checking out for a well-directed slice of slimy horror.

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lastgaijin from United States
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It's took a long time for me to get around to see this film. I distinctly remember being freaked out by the TV ads with the building's lights all being shut down to revealing the skull you see on the poster.

Well, if you have patience and you like old school films, you may find VISITING HOURS entertaining. It is one of those films that keeps you thinking and works more on your emotions, along the veins of DePalma's DRESSED TO KILL or, these days, any film by M. Night Shaylaman. There are some hit and miss elements with the viewing, but Jean Claude Lord gives it a good shot, in both his directing and editing. Fans of Lee Grant or William Shatner won't find much to endure: it's Michael Ironside who's really the star of this picture. Not as gory nor sexy as many of the other films of this genre during the early eighties, but it certainly is better than half of them--and specifically tries to avoid copycating. If you're not too cynical or sarcastic, give VISITING HOURS a watch.

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HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland
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"Visiting Hours" is a forgotten slasher film which stars Michael Ironside as a murderer stalking TV journalist Lee Grant.The film is pretty slow,but there is enough violence to satisfy fans of horror cinema.Ironside is pretty believable as a misogynistic serial killer,the rest of the cast is also impressive.The film is pretty scary and suspenseful,so fans of slasher movies won't be disappointed.It was made the same year as similar "Halloween 2".Overall,I enjoyed this one and you should too,especially if you like slasher movies.My rating:8 out of 10.

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disdressed12 from Canada
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i really enjoyed this movie.the pace is frantic at times(in a good way)there's lots of suspense.the villain is definitely menacing,to say the least.even better is the fact that this movie contains no stoned or drunk, easy target teenagers.the victims are all adults and the killer is not just some faceless murdering machine.he has a personality(not a good personality,but at least he has 1)the other thing i liked is that we are shown some insight into why this particular psycho kills women.this is a Canadian movie,which may surprise some people,given how good the movie is.William Shatner is in this movie,but thankfully his role is small enough not to torpedo the movie.others in the movie include Michael Ironside,Lee Grant and Linda purl.1 other thing i should say is that "Visiting Hours"is a "smart" horror flick.easily 8*/10

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cmoore0013 from Jackson, MS
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A smart movie that also features a commentary on feminism and bigotry. It's dark and gritty, more along the lines of Maniac than Halloween. It's pretty sleazy, but it's still an entertaining roller coaster. I'd love to see reactions to this in the theater. I have never jumped so much in a slasher film. The scares are about as effective as they get. They are delivered with such ferocity.

Typically, slashers feature a teen cast, but this is another aspect where Visting Hours tries to break the mold. The lead is middle aged Deborah (Lee Grant). Somehow, it never works against it. I found this refreshing and interesting. Michael Ironside's portrayal of the killer is terrifying. Even William Shatner comes in as a thankless role.

The scares are of an amazing frequency and effectiveness. For this reason alone, I'd recommend the film! For fans of thrillers, slashers, or anything scary.

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BaronBl00d (baronbl00d@aol.com) from NC
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I started watching this film with somewhat low expectations. I mean the video box cover looked like some typical slasher film from the 80's with its cover containing a skull embedded over a weird looking hospital. After five minutes my expectations rose, because this film is a rollercoaster ride for all one hour and forty-five minutes. It is not-stop action as we, the audience, watch both victim(Lee Grant) and murderer(Michael Ironside) cope with being prey and predator respectively. The film has some loose holes in plot and believability, but the action and pace of the film more than amply make up for its shortcomings. Lee Grant does a fine job as a somewhat older female lead, but it is Ironside's performance which is truly impressive. He is one dark, mean, cruel killer. Apparently as a child he saw his father disabled by his mother, and then grew up with this hatred of strong females(of which Grant is one as a media celebrity). His flashback sequences are abstract and never fully explained, but Ironside really conveys the hate, fear, and emotional void with a thorough performance. Most of his role is done with little speech. Linda Purl(lovely as ever) gives a nice performance too. Oh!...William Shatner has a role in this too. His part is pretty useless, as is his performance. Credit must also be given to director Jean-Luc Lord and his wonderful ability to pace and use hackneyed plot contrivances and horror cliches with an amazing freshness. A scary, disturbing film!

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Milan from Belgrade, Serbia
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Visiting Hours is the film I saw, more than once in movie theater. Having opportunity to get it on DVD I didn't know what to expect. Very few films from my childhood "at the movies" stood the test of time, but the ones that made an impact then, are forever implanted in my film taste. Same thing happened with this film. It is untypical - typical horror film, that looks like traditional 80's slashers but different in all the key points. I never looked at any of Michael Ironside's roles without seeing the deranged psychopath he portrayed in this one.

It's qualities for me, are shortcomings for the majority of horror picture fans. It doesn't have new body spraying buckets of blood every two and a half seconds. It doesn't have freaks with masks and buzzin' chain saws, severed heads and body parts flying around. It has a story of deeply disturbed character, and his rampage through the world around him that he hates deeply and profoundly. Not just the women. He hates them all, and with passion. It has character actors, not bunch of nobodies that are only there to supply bodies for the count. They are not in their best dramatic roles, and the movie could have been better, but it's not half bad either, and it surely doesn't deserve such low rating.

This movie has something in it that's still there all these years. It aged well and you can't say that for many of them. It's different in it's usualness and that is the catch. Look for it, even if you don't like horrors. It won't give you nightmares, it will make an impression.

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John Seger from Los Angeles
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I'll never forget the hyped advertising campaign when this above average horror flick was released in 1981. When I saw it, I really dug it! And seeing it recently again, I still dig it! This is a very good 1980's era horror flick with routine scare tacts, but done with good acting and a fast paced style. Afer, "Halloween", a rush of "slasher" films hit the market. "Visiting hours" is a worthy immitation with it's own feel. What I liked most, is the killing scenes, which are really freaky and have a no holds barred style to them. Also, Linda Pearl is an excellent actress that provides the film with a girl being stalked in pursuit of the killer. She is beautiful, and gives the film a real actress and not just another stupid blonde female screaming and running around. Lee Grant is also an established actress and gives a decent performance. William Shatner plays, well, William Shatner..the dude never will really play a "part" that goes beyond his typical facial and speach patterns. Michael Ironside is great as a sick twisted relentless killer...If you like 1980'sera horror films, you most likely will enjoy this film. It's mindless entertainment that does what it intends to do: scare you.

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Certifications:
Australia:R / Finland:K-18 / France:-16 / Germany:BPjM Restricted / Iceland:(Banned) / Iceland:16 (cut) / New Zealand:R18 / Norway:18 (video premiere) / Norway:(Banned) (1982-2003) (cinema release) / Portugal:M/18 / Sweden:15 / UK:18 / USA:R / West Germany:18