Le boucher de Notting Hill

My review was written in October 1990 after watching the film on Academy video cassette.

This British-lensed suspense feature is too lengthy to have the intended impact. Direct-to-video release is unlikely to catch on with genre fans.

Originally titled "Helpline" in reference to its phone hotline number subject matter, the picture features a cast of British unknowns led by Emma Jacobs as a reporter who receives a call from a nutcase.

Weirdo claims to have slaughtered a family and videotaped the event. Jacobs then finds an eye sitting on her doorstep and is tormented for the rest of the film.

There are some good camera angles and okay plot twists for a whodunit, but most of the character manipulation is unconvincing.l The low-key acting clashes with cinematographer John de Borman's flashy camerawork. Director Anders Palm relies too heavily on recited exposition by the cast.

Amount of explanations in the final reel is counterproductive, tho9ugh few viewers will be able to guess the true identity of the killers ahead of time. That's a definite plu since most videos are overly predictable.