Even having grown up in the seventies and after spending far
too many nights beneath the moon at the drive-in I wasn’t familiar with the
movie SCALPEL. One would think that it surely made its way to one drive-in or
another. But such was not the case where I lived. So when I heard it was coming
to disc from Arrow Video I was looking forward to it to say the least.
The story revolves around a family in the south, those
stalwarts of times gone by who drink mint julips while relaxing on the front
porch of some southern mansion. It opens with the death of the family patriarch
and the reading of his will. Grandpa wasn’t too fond of his family leaving only
his dog to his son Bradley (Arlen Dean Snyder), nothing to his son-in-law Dr.
Phillip Reynolds (Robert Lansing) and his entire wealth of $5 million to his granddaughter
and Phillip’s daughter Heather (Judith Chapman). The only problem is that
Heather disappeared over a year prior and no one knows where she’s at.
As Bradley and Phillip are returning home after celebrating
the old man’s death a unclothed woman with a battered face falls in front of
their car. Being a brilliant plastic surgeon, they gather her into Phillip’s
car and rush her to his hospital. There he takes care of her making the
decision after noticing the similarities she shares with his daughter to give
her Heather’s face. With no identification she goes only by Jane Doe and when
she’s ready to leave, Phillip takes her to his home to recuperate.
It is there that he shares his plan with her. With his
daughter gone and no clue that she even still lives, he wants Jane to take her
place. She will learn her speech patterns, who the various family members are
and to become Heather. In return he agrees to give her half of the $5 million. What
he fails to tell her is his homicidal ways having killed both Heather’s mother
and her boyfriend, the cause for her leaving.
All goes well and the money is transferred. But then an
eerie twist takes place. Phillip begins to fall for Jane. It takes on a creepy
vibe as the man falls in essence for a woman who looks exactly like his
daughter. Sure, he knows it’s not her, but still.
Things begin to unravel when Heather actually returns home.
Heather accepts Jane’s staying at the house and doesn’t reveal anything to
anyone. Joyous for her return Phillip makes plans for the three of them to live
there in the house without being bothered. But Jane isn’t quite sure of the
situation. Before the final credits roll the twists and turns of the film will
find a resolution for everyone concerned.
The movie oozes charm and southern sophistication throughout
even though the storyline revolves around murder most foul. Lansing who was a consummate
actor and appeared on numerous TV series does a great job here, not making the
character sympathetic but not painting him as a raving lunatic either. Chapman
does a great job in both roles as Heather and Jane. Director only went on to do one other film, BLOOD
RAGE, but cinematographer Edward Lachman, in what was his first time out as
director of cinematography, went on to bigger things. Those include doing the
same duties on films like SELENA, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, ERIN BROCKOVICH, CAROL
and recently WONDERSTRUCK.
Rather than receive the shabby treatment reserved for movies
like this provided during the days of VHS it is now being released by Arrow
Video and that immediately means that it is an upgrade over any version
previously offered. To begin with we’re presented with a brand new 2k
restoration of the film on blu-ray format. There is also the option of watching
the film in the southern gothic style overtones in coloring created by Lachman
or the straightforward standard color version. Extras include a brand new audio
commentary track by film historian Richard Harland Smith, brand new crew interviews,
the original trailer, a reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by The Wins of
Evil and lastly for the first pressing only a collector’s booklet with new
writing on the film by Bill Ackerman.
The film might not be for everyone but for fans of those
southern gothic novels, of thrillers and of horror movies you’ll want to give
this one a watch. In the end you might even enjoy it enough to have it grace
the shelves of your collection. In either case it’s worth giving a watch.
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