Deceived (1991) Slowly but surely, we've been tracking down the 1990's suspense thrillers that spun through theaters fairly fast, but took up popular residence in video stores.......
This one came courtesy of one of Disney's production arms that pumped out cheaply produced movies for grown-ups. (The thinking behind the studio's prolific release schedule was that if only one or two of these low-budgeters hit the jackpot, the profits accrued would soar, given the films cost little to make.....)
So here we see comic actress Goldie Hawn going all dead serious and scared as hell when she realizes the man she married.......
Before we go on......in order to intelligently discuss this film, we'll have to unveil its primary plot hook.......so if you continue with us here, prepare for a great big fat SPOILER.
You may have guessed it already. After 5 years of marital bliss (and a toddler girl as a result), Goldie discovers, piece by piece, clue by clue that her swell-guy husband (John Heart) is a serial liar, bigamist, murderer and all around psycho.
Other than that, he's a heck of a guy.
Once the movie shows all its cards, it becomes nothing more than a peek-a-boo jump scare marathon between Hawn and Heard. (And once again, we salute the underappreciated, unsung work of Heard, a brilliant actor who somehow found himself relegated to mostly worthless roles.....like this one.)
If all you expect from a thriller are a sporadic series of jolts, followed by a climactic violent showdown, then "Deceived" will do in a pinch if you can't find something better.
But if you demand logic, sense and rational behavior in this genre.......you won't find it here. The film's nothing but a little thrill-toy......you wind it up, it wobbles around....and falls over when its battery runs down.
We'll not complain too much, since Goldie Hawn's always interesting to watch, even when her scream of terror isn't all that different from her yelling in comedies. And in his final moments here, Heard goes for the acting gusto, as if the film was even remotely deserving of his efforts.
2 stars (**) Now on to something better in 90's thrills 'n chills. Maybe.
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