VHS Vednesday: Silhouette

SILHOUETTE (1990). Directed by Carl Schenkel. Starring Faye Dunaway, David Rasche, and John Terry.

A standard thriller bouyed by strong performances, the made-for-cable movie Silhouette stars Faye Dunaway as a successful architect whose car breaks down while driving through a small Texas town. Forced to stay overnight in a cheap hotel, her inconvenience turns into a much more serious predicament when she looks out of her window and witnesses the murder of a local waitress (Talisa Soto). Due to the lighting in the victim's apartment, she is unable to see the killer's face, but only his silhouette (hence the title). Of course, the killer can't take the chance that she can't identify him, so she is now a target.

Although the script offers few surprises, Carl Schenkel's direction keeps the pace and tension tight. All in all, Silhouette is not worth actively seeking out, but is an enjoyable evening's viewing if you happen to come across it.

Who's Leaving This Off Their Resume?

Faye Dunaway, as she so frequently does, elevates the flimsy material with an impeccable characterization. She is ably supported by David Rasche (TV's Sledge Hammer!) and John Terry as the helpful local cops. Unfortunately, few of the other players are given anything substantial to work with; Talisa Soto has only a few minutes of screen time before being eliminated from the story (a disappointing follow-up to her career-launching Bond Girl role in Licence to Kill). Joss Whedon fans might want to keep an eye out for a brief appearance by the late Glenn Quinn (Angel) as Rasche's teenage son, though he doesn't have much to do with the plot.