IMDb RATING
5.4/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
A man is wrongfully convicted of killing his wife. After he is let out of prison, he is framed again.A man is wrongfully convicted of killing his wife. After he is let out of prison, he is framed again.A man is wrongfully convicted of killing his wife. After he is let out of prison, he is framed again.
James Staszkiel
- Lunging Inmate
- (as Jim Staszkiel)
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter
- Teen Inmate
- (as Robert 'Ducky' Carpenter)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring filming on May 9, 1997, Patrick Swayze broke both legs and tore four tendons in his shoulder when his horse threw him into a tree. He said he grabbed the horse's mane and flipped himself around so that he wouldn't hit the tree with his head.
- Quotes
Race Darnell: Hearing your voice soothes me like waves softly lapping on the shore.
- SoundtracksDaddy Tried
Performed by Mr. Dyer's Daughters
Written by Elsa J. Dyer (as Elsa Dyer), Linda J. Dyer (as Linda Dyer), Sonja L. Dyer (as Sonja Dyer),
Marty Axelrod, Cathy Carlson
By Permission of MDD Music
© 1997/ASCAP
Featured review
Patchy but worth trying
I didn't expect too much from this movie which had no cinema release in the UK, but for its first hour or so it's a competent and original drama, and it just about holds you until its end. Race Darnell, played by Patrick Swayze, on Death Row for killing his wife, exchanges letters in the form of casette recordings with four women, each of them thinking she is his sole support. But one of them discovers the truth, and turns nasty. Soon after, his conviction is reversed; he gets out, and meets up with the women one by one, trying to find out who's threatening him. But before he identifies her, she starts killing the others, using the same method he was supposed to have used with his wife.
From then on, the film becomes more implausible, and more gory. Also, though tension is first built up with Swayze going on the run, it's then reduced by cutting away from the action to show the Feds having discussions about who the killer is, instead of them simply pursuing Race implacably. A nice touch - or a digression, depending on your point of view - is a buddy-buddy friendship between Race and one of his former wardens, Horton (Roger E Mosley) who's a fan of cowboy stories. You're kept guessing until the last few minutes, though mainly because one of the characters acts irrationally, and the Feds climb some stairs very slowly! All in all, it's worth a look on TV, or as a bargain rental.
From then on, the film becomes more implausible, and more gory. Also, though tension is first built up with Swayze going on the run, it's then reduced by cutting away from the action to show the Feds having discussions about who the killer is, instead of them simply pursuing Race implacably. A nice touch - or a digression, depending on your point of view - is a buddy-buddy friendship between Race and one of his former wardens, Horton (Roger E Mosley) who's a fan of cowboy stories. You're kept guessing until the last few minutes, though mainly because one of the characters acts irrationally, and the Feds climb some stairs very slowly! All in all, it's worth a look on TV, or as a bargain rental.
helpful•51
- Geofbob
- Aug 30, 2001
- How long is Letters from a Killer?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Letters from a Killer (1998) officially released in Canada in English?
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