And a Happy Halloween to you.
If somewhat premature, this is nevertheless the greeting intended by
”Stephen King`s Silver Bullet,” a limp retelling of the werewolf legend that is about as frightening as a rubbery Richard Nixon mask.
If this hairy, hoary tale had been the work of any other writer, it`s unlikely it would have found its way to the nation`s movie screens. King is a gifted, prolific writer but his success has obviously led him, and several movie producers, to the dangerous conclusion that whatever pops from his typewriter is worthy of public consumption.
Set in the late 1970s in one of those little towns so quaint and blissful that they seem to be asking for trouble, ”Silver Bullet” concerns the antics of one particularly vicious wolf fellow: His style is firmly set when he decapitates his first victim.
Naturally, no one suspects a werewolf is on the prowl: Oh, it`s just another maniac killer. It takes a 13-year-old teen to solve the killing puzzle. Marty Coslaw, confined to a motorized wheelchair he calls the Silver Bullet, is a fresh-faced, fun-loving and remarkably well-adjusted little fellow, played to mugging extreme by Corey Haim.
We never learn the reason for his being crippled but he scoots about town in playful pursuits until his best girl`s father and best friend are done in by the werewolf. Shooting fireworks one night–alone in the middle of a forest, of course–he encounters guess who and escapes by hitting him in the eye with a rocket.
His sister believes his story; together they figure out which of the upstanding townsfolk gets mean and hairy after midnight. They are unable, however, to convince their Uncle Red, an oft-married, hard-drinking gadabout portrayed with outlandish playfulness by Gary Busey.
Deciding to placate the child, Red finds a gunsmith who fashions a silver bullet (the only way to kill a werewolf) from Marty`s St. Christopher medal. And brother, sister and uncle (With a killer loose, the parents have blithely decided to spend a weekend in New York.) wait to battle the beast.
This all makes, even with minor explorations of religion and sibling love, a movie sadly lacking in thrills and chills, a werewolf without bite.
”THE PROTECTOR”
There is Danny Aiello, running half naked through a Hong Kong massage parlor. There is Jackie Chan, battling a behemoth while suspended in air. There are high-tech weapons, exploding cars and boats, flying feet and fists. That is ”The Protector,” an interesting combination of adventure film cliches and pleasant surprises. It contains the requisite fights, explosions and chases. But these are done with such style and invention that they give the film a quick, satisfying pace. Writer/director James Glickenhaus gives
”The Protector” a fresh and clean if not terribly high-budget look and some neatly developed characters.
Chan is a most likable actor. His character–determined maverick cop–is not as invulnerable, invincible and tight-lipped as the heroes we have come to expect from chop-chop films. A gifted, graceful fighter, he is not above taking a licking. Though triumph is inevitable, he goes about his business with an attractive, self-effacing macho that adds refreshing dimension to what could have been another cardboard karate kid.
Aiello makes a perfect partner. With the ability to spout expletives with the assurance and force of Laurence Olivier doing Hamlet, Aiello is a great screen cop, full of naive bluster and gun-toting self-assurance.
On the trail of a woman kidnaped by international drug smugglers, the two New York cops head for Hong Kong where they encounter some suitably evil chaps. There are a couple of interesting twists along the way, a pair of entertaining characters and enough violence to satisfy most.
Though this is not the sort of movie one must hurry out to see, it is a kick and a blast above most in this sorry genre.
Rating: (STAR)(STAR) 1/2 stars
”STEPHEN KING`S SILVER BULLET”
(STAR)
Mini-review: Werewolf without bite
Directed by Daniel Attias; written by Stephen King, based on his novelette,
”Cycle of the Werewolf”; photographed by Armando Nannuzzi; music by Jay Chattaway; produced by Martha Schumacher; a Paramount Pictures release at the Carnegie and outlying theaters. Rated R.
THE CAST
Uncle Red…… Gary Busey
Reverend Lowe… Everett McGill
Marty Coslaw…. Corey Ham
Jane Coslaw….. Megan Follows
Sheriff. Terry O`Quinn
