| Suspect Device (1995) Cast:C. Thomas Howell, Stacey Travis, Jed Allan, John Beck,Jonathan Fuller C. Thomas Howell stars as a man who seems to live a very normal life, he has a nice office job, a pretty wife and a bunch of friends and memories from college but one day everything changes, Howell's wife doesn't know him, he knows how to fight despite never having a karate lesson and furthermore all of his co-workers have been slaughtered and it seems that government agents are after him, however along the way Howell learns more about his identity that meets the eye in this surreal yet suspenseful and entertaining Sci-Fi actioner. Rick Jacobson name as director didn't inspire much hope with this movie, this is afterall the guy who directed Night Hunter and Bloodfist VI, but Jacobsen puts on the breaks and delivers a movie so bizarre that one can't help but feel for Howell's character who is understandably confused by what's going on, indeed a twist along the way is so sharp that it only adds to overall impact that the movie never at first glance ever has, I was just figuring that this would be a lame Total Recall rip off but instead Suspect Device turns out to be so clever and energetic you can't help but admire what the cast and director do with the material. C. Thomas Howell has always been an interesting choice for an actionstar lead, he can be sympathetic, hard edged and psychotic at a moment's glance, that's what makes Suspect Device so good, Howell's paranoid acting adds a sense of reality that gives the movie more texture than what I ever expected. Indeed this whole movie is made by people who enjoyed taking an idea and going as far as they can with it as well as playing out the tension and drama for all that it's worth. Aside from a silly fight between Howell and two robots, Suspect Device emerges as not only one of C. Thomas Howell's best movies but also as one of Roger Corman's more interesting features. And certainly Rick Jacobson's best movie to date. D.Rick Jacobson*** |