HEXED (1993)

Written & Directed By: Alan Spencer 
Cinematography: James Chressanthis 
Editor: James Horak & Debra McDermott 


Cast: Ayre Gross, Claudia Christian, Adrienne Shelly, R. Lee Ermey, Norman Fell, Ray Baker, Michael E. Knight, Robin Curtis 


Lowly hotel clerk Matthew Welch stumbles unto a chance to go on a date with supermodel Hexina by pretending he is someone else. But something goes wrong on the date, she tries to kill him! Soon she kills a couple more people, and unfortunately all the evidence points to Matthew. Gloria, who has been wishing Matthew would ask her on a date, thinks he is innocent and is willing to help, but hardnosed Detective Ferguson is hot on the clues, and closing in on Matthew.

I remember watching this movie twice in theaters to try to decide if I actually liked it or not.

This comedy is low brow and occasionally funny while being borderline offensive. As many attempts at jokes and humor half the time fall flat. It also Feels like a parody. These days this is more of a cult oddity.

The movie’s budget was slashed in half a month before filming started. Which explains why the film looks low budget. This was not so big a problem for writer director Alan Spencer (SLEDGE HAMMER) who has a background exclusively in television comedy. The film ended up being taken away from him as the studio took control of the final edit.

It has spoof elements but tries to be a straight forward comedy which sometimes throws the movie off. Also the more mean spirited humor that comes off cruel not dark as the film seems to intend for no real reason.

The film is very wordy at times and less action to try to keep things moving.

The film can’t seem to tell if it wants to be a comedy or spoof. As it seems to send up not necessarily erotic thrillers but films of that type like FATAL ATTRACTION (surprisingly a bit better than Carl Reiner’s spoof Like FATAL INSTINCT) Where as here a supermodel ends up being a serial killer.

Everyone seems to go for broke trying to sell the material here. Though never loses it smarminess throughout.

It’s a shame actress Claudia Christian never became a bigger star as she gives an energetic balls out comedic performance. That normally could have been star making.

This is also the first film that I saw the late great actress Adrienne Shelly in.

Ayre gross is good in the leading role. A character actor but still anonymous at the time so that the audience doesn’t expect anything in particular from him that a more well established name does. As a star comes with baggage and actor can usually just transform and doesn’t have as much pressure on their shoulders.

Now you have to have your protagonist learn a lesson throughout, but while a dreamer and inadvertent liar. Matthew the main Character is so delusional they when he is in the middle or making his lies or stories come true he treats others who are trying to help him so bad . That at times it’s hard to feel sorry for him and not feel he is getting what he deserves in a way.

It’s not great but also never got the appreciation it deserved. It’s ok but a comedy relic of a certain period that tried. It doesn’t have a big name star which might have helped it at the box office. As without one it really doesn’t have as much of an anchor as it might need. It looks filmed more like an indie movie. As this seemed more like the type Leslie Nielsen might have starred in but needed a younger leading man and apparently not too many fit that mold at the time

GRADE: C