I bought this video because I was working on a production of the play it is based on "I'll Be Back Before Midnight." The play and the screenplay for this movie are both by Peter Colley, who is also an associate producer of the film.
As has been noted, the director was working on an English-speaking production for the first time and was a Russian political refugee - who came to the US via Czechkoslavakia. Better for him if he had stayed there.
This is a terrible movie. The suspense of the screenplay doesn't hold a candle to the play. I can't believe that Colley made such a mess of what is basically a terrific comedy-thriller. Plot lines are muddled, characters are non-existent or inconsistent, and there is not a moment of REAL suspense in the whole movie.
The director must share some of the blame, too, of course. I imagine the editors had their work cut out for them when they were handed this mess. A narration (by Heather Locklear's character, but not done by Locklear) just confuses things more.
IF you are considering doing the play, don't judge it by this movie. This is one of the worst movies I have EVER seen. The acting, the lighting and camera-work, the costumes, the music, and physical production are all just terrible. Originally set in an old "haunted" farm house - the movie takes place in some Spanish-style castle.
The whole premise is muddled and there is no mystery or suspense. Even the "surprise" ending has only one mild shock-scare, and that one is here and gone before you know what has happened.
I would say that the illusion here is that anyone involved knew anything about making a movie - especially a thriller.
