THE MEAN SEASON (1985)

 

Directed By: Philip Boros

Written By: Leon Piedmont 

Cinematography: Frank Tidy 

Editor: Duwayne Dunham

Cast: Kurt Russell, Mariel Hemingway, Joe Pantoliano, Andy Garcia, Richard Masur, Richard Jordan, Richard Bradford, William Smith 

When a teenager is shot at the beach, a journalist from The Miami Journal is sent to cover the story. He's called by the murderer and told there'll be four more.

This movie took me by surprise mainly because it was a Kurt Russell-starring thriller made in the 1980s that I had never heard of before. So it was fascinating to watch.

For its time this film seems to pass the mister and it’s not bad, but it doesn't feel like anything that special either. Especially watching it in modern times. We have seen many movies and even television episodes of shows that tackle the same subject matter of journalistic ethics.

The film is filled with character actors some early in their careers others late. So it keeps it exciting watching them at work.

The film offers a few red herrings before generally just giving us the identity of the serial killer in the third act.

Whereas it becomes a cat-and-mouse game after the killer kidnaps the reporter's girlfriend after he feels betrayed by the reporter.

The film chooses to examine the serial killer and his killings over the morality of what the reporter is doing and more becoming part of the story than reporting on it. Which would have been a stronger film. Exploring the newspaper industry and its culture at the time. 

The film even includes the old cinematic trick of having the newspaper swirl and spin before revealing the headline superimposed over characters. It also has the going to retire after one last job cliche. 

Screenwriter Christopher Crowe sued an alias for his credit on this film. Where you wonder if its because it differed from his original screenplay or was more of a side project job he did and didn’t want this to injure his career. 

I wish I could say this was a one tenant to make a dent in the weekly box office and soon forgotten,  if this film was made quickly and shoddily. There was real care and work put in throughout. 

The film is a good pot boiler and time waster but never quite strong enough to be that memorable. Never quite making its mark. Despite its cast. 

Grade: C+