Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Heatwave (1997)
It is a very hot summer in the city as the well known detectives of the 87th Precinct investigate serial rapes and a mysterious homicide (which do not appear to be connected). The women getting raped appear to be raped by a rapist who has raped them earlier and who was not caught. Detective Eileen Burke, who is working together with detectives Carella, Meyer and Brown, goes undercover and pretends to be one of the women who was raped earlier in order to lure out the rapist. Her boyfriend, Det. Kling, is not happy with her assignment.
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So much average
Absolutely Brilliant!
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
It's a shame that "Heatwave" is not better known, because it is quite possibly the film where Erika Eleniak makes the transition from busty sex symbol to legitimate actress. Playing a cop whose anxiousness to prove her worth leads her to a traumatic experience, Eleniak disappears into the character almost completely. The same goes for the rest of the cast - they may not be very well-known, but they fit their characters. Written and directed in a very tight, economic (and admittedly "TV-ish", with lots of close-ups) style, the film is sometimes exciting (especially in a foot chase in the middle) and sometimes hard to watch (intentionally, due to the nature of the story). The only part of which the significance I still haven't completely figured out is a secondary murder/bigamy case that the detectives are investigating. Maybe it was just added to give more of a "documentary on the daily cop life" feel to the production. *** out of 4.
There isn't anything special about this story of this film. In fact for the most part you wander around through the film waiting for the end. But I must also add that the beautiful Dale Midkiff who plays the lead as Detective Steve Carella is much, much better suited for this role than Randy Quaid ever was. Not only is her perfect and should get more roles, he has a believable sympathy for the rape victims that are being preyed on for the second time by a serial rapist. The rapist is shown to us, but we do not know WHO he is, even though we see his face. I think that the last twist was fairly well thought out, and a nice touch. Erika Eliniak playing the only female detective we see in the whole film-rather unrealistic I think-does a very good job. She is a good actress, and very under-appreciated. The relationships between the detectives are realistic enough, also is the hatred for the media which ironically weaves into unlocking the riddle of who the rapist is. Motive is what is lacking. I suppose they were just going for the old "He's a psycho" reason. Good movie. If you get a chance to see it on TV watch it. If only to look at the gorgeous Dale Midkiff for two hours.