Ladykiller (1996) User Reviews

Made for cable time-killer.

[capkronos · 4/10 · 21 May 2003]

OK Roger Corman cable production delivers pretty much what you'd expect. A maniac kills shapely nude models on a small college campus by slitting their throats after force-feeding them coins. Troubled ex-policeman Jack `Jigsaw' Lasky (Ben Gazzara), who's haunted by memories of accidentally shooting and killing his partner, becomes personally involved when the prime suspect, cocky actor Richard Darling (Alex MacArthur), becomes involved with his blonde artist daughter (Renee Ammann).

The plot is often highly implausible and some of the characters behave brain dead, but some witty dialogue and good interplay between Gazzara and MacArthur are enough to keep you tuned in.

Score: 4 out of 10

Super decent film, not memorable.

[Beyondtherain · 6/10 · 3 March 2020]

I watched this film like two days ago and almost forgot all about what happened... Some of the acting is bad and the kill scenes look too thrown around and random...got kinda boring as well. Overall, it's watchable.

Quick Opinion

[MissTRious · 23 September 1999]

All in all this is not too bad. The film has some moments of real suspense and drama, however they are unfortunately counterbalance by some appalling script points. Ben Gazzara is OK as the cop, not too nasty and not too nice. Alex McArthur is the other main character, and he turns in a pretty decent performance. In summary, a little brainless at points but not a bad film.

Too many plot holes to pick out

[Zipper69 · 1/10 · 26 January 2005]

Ben Gazzara, at one time thought to be another Brando phones in his predictable grouchy, heavy-drinking "rogue" cop performance. The plot is a shambles, a masked killer is prowling a campus (which apparently has NO security patrols, even after the first death) and murdering girls by choking them with coins.

Gazzara fiddles with a blank jigsaw and is sometimes called "Hey, Jigsaw" but this has no bearing on the plot, similarly his agonizing over the accidental shooting of his partner is repeated several times for no good effect. The moment we realize that the dumb, blonde art student is his daughter the signposts are erected to the predictable outcome. In these days of CSI and Law & Order it's amusing to see cops trampling all over a crime scene and inviting an initial prime suspect to assist in the investigation.

Conclusion: Life's too short to visit the scene of this cinematic crime