Review of Relentless (1989) by Chris C — 11 Feb 2014

Other than an unique bit of casting that was the film's one selling point, there's nothing all that noteworthy about "Relentless", a fairly routine serial killer movie that I nevertheless enjoyed to a certain degree. It's great fun seeing Brat Packer Judd Nelson break out of the teen genre playing a sadistic killer, and even though he's only given a handful of dialogue, it's a good performance.

The guy is dealing with a lot of issues, but Nelson makes the character work with mannerisms and body language. Also good in one of his few starring roles is Leo Rossi as the lead detective on the case, fresh off his memorable turn in "The Accused" the year before. He's convincing in the part, and a commanding presence that holds the entire picture together.

There's nothing special about the story, and with one possible exception, the murders are routinely filmed. However, William Lustig is a premier B-movie director who knows how to handle this material. After all, he directed one of the most gruesome serial killer movies ever in "Maniac". This one emphasizes story over gore, but the similarities are definitely there, and Lustig manages to get a few effective shocks in. The best scene involves the murder of a female songwriter, and the finale is pretty exciting as well.

Despite the fact that it may feel like you've already seen this movie, "Relentless" does manage to offer up a few surprises along the way. The lead performances alone make it worth seeing, with Nelson surprisingly good at adding menace to his thankless role.