After Alice (1999, Germany & UK)

A serial murder and police investigation thriller, set in a gritty, big city in the USA (although the film is a German and UK co-production). The film has attracted adverse criticism for being too humdrum, but it contains a number of slightly weird elements mostly connected with supernatural powers. In fact at the climax, the good policeman is being held at gunpoint by the baddie; the goodie releases some supernatural "energy" to escape; but don't let me put you off the film.

At the very beginning when we are setting up the characters, the world-weary and heavy-drinking hero policeman is in the local supermarket. He is gay and open about it, and evidently well known to the gay proprietor. A dialogue goes like this:

Good policeman: Did you hear from Alvin?

Proprietor: He called.

GP: Well that's something.

Prop: He wants the rest of his stuff!

GP: Screw him!

Prop: He won't let me! (pause) Why don't you and I get hitched, Mickey?

GP: (Not surprised by this): You're sporting the wrong equipment.

Prop: I could change.

GP: No, it's too painful, and too expensive. Besides I'd just treat you bad.

The good policeman is on friendly terms with the local low-life too; inevitably there is a transvestite hooker with a heart of gold, in this case Claudette, played by Alexander Chapman. Claudette was at the scene of one of the murders, but now has been brought in by another policeman, apparently for making suggestive remarks to him. He refers to Claudette as "him", earning Claudette's outrage.

Later Claudette is going about her nocturnal work, and she herself is threatened by a violent person.

Oh, and look out for the corpse distinctly breathing during the post-mortem examination scene.

The film was also released as Eye of the Killer. Alice was the name of the first victim in the series.

HF May 2005

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