Amnesia (1997) / Thriller

MPAA Rated: R for strong sexuality and language, and for violence
Running Time: 88 min.

Cast: Nicholas Walker, Sally Kirkland, Ally Sheedy, Dara Tomanovich, Vincent Berry
Director: Kurt Voss
Screenplay: David Henry, Christopher Belden, Kurt Voss
Review published November 22, 1999

In AMNESIA, Nicholas Walker plays a preacher who has an tawdry affair at a local motel with his son's school teacher. He is stuck in a loveless marriage, desperately yearning to find some way to escape his life and run off with his new mistress. He devises a plot to make it look as though he had drowned in a nearby lake, but through a freak accident he ends up washed ashore with amnesia.

While the setup during the first third of the film runs smoothly and maintains believability, AMNESIA sharply declines in credibility shortly after the amnesia storyline is introduced. Viewers who are interested in seeing nudity or steamy sex will be disappointed, as the only nude scenes among the attractive ensemble of actors is provided by the 53 year old Kirkland, who I suppose is attractive enough for someone her age, but definitely not enough to sit through such a bad film.

Like so many thrillers, AMNESIA starts off with an interesting idea, but fails due to uninspired execution and a forced attempt at a powerful climax that overachieves to the point of ridiculousness.

Qwipster's rating:

©1999 Vince Leo