A pre-bugged out Gary Busey portrays a resident psychopath (Tom Sykes) in a very strange performance that will ultimately make you pull back the shower curtain before taking a piss. Not really, but I like Busey. I would, however, hide in the shower if I saw him coming towards me.
After his release from a state institution, Tom finds a cozy new place to call home: a secret place he builds in the attic of the Dryer family home. No, not Fred Dryer's family. Hunter would have found him and let Dee Dee have a round or two with him.
Sykes definitely knows how to hide. As a child Tom would escape his parents violent outbursts and abuse by hiding in the most remote areas of the house. It's not long before he finally gets tired of being burned with cigarettes and torches down the house with his parents in it.
By setting up an elaborate microphone system in the attic, Tom's able to hear every word they say. He knows more about the Dryer family than Fred Dryer knows about them. Tom is now part of the house and his obsession with Julie unleashes hidden demons trapped in a mind that's trapped in an attic.
Tom finally makes himself known to Julie after he finds Phil and his mistress at a local restaurant. (He sets up a plan to have her meet him at the same hotel he uses with his mistress.) After the fur flies and Phil gets caught in the act, he's told to leave. Tom strategically places himself in the middle of a schoolyard fight between Julie's son and some monkey-bar punk. Julie appreciates Tom stepping in and little by little Tom starts to come around.
Things get a little hazy in Julie's eyes when Tom teaches her son some new defense techniques that involves viciously hurting one's opponent by means of nut blows, knees, and elbows. Things are set in stone when Tom shows how screwed up he his by almost refusing to take no for an answer when he asks for a formal date with Julie.
The film as a whole deals loosely with the psychological aspect of a bad upbringing. (Almost similar to a 1970's film called Bad Ronald - about a guy who lives in the walls of the house in which new tenants move in) Tom's arms are riddled with scars from cigarette burns. The conclusion of his visits to his shrink have him worried. He's afraid he'll 'loose control' again. The shrink talks nice, but isn't too keen on the notion of having him released. I wouldn't let Gary Busey roam the free world either.
What sets this movie off from the rest of the 'I'm crazy because I was abused as a kid' movies is the fact that at heart, Tom is a big old Teddy Bear. He really doesn't want to hurt anyone. His motives are pure in his own mind, but those damned old memories seem to trigger his rough temper. All he wants to do is lead an all American life, equipped with a wife and kids. Tom actually is a character to be pitied. I truly never saw him as a villain until the finale.
There's not much slicing and dicing going on, but the movie as a whole has a few slasher undertones. I guess one could classify it as such. I classify marijuana as a hearty breakfast, so...
One thing I do know is that a dog, an ill fated exterminator, and Julie's friend get killed and buried. Another thing I know is that this movie is quiet entertaining. Busey gives a wonderful performance and really doesn't have to act too much. As we all know, Busey is crazy anyway. Also, Mimi Roger's is smoking as usual, reminding me for the world of my beautiful wife.
If you're a fan of psychological horror films as well as slasher films, you can't go wrong. No masterpiece, but no pile of trash either. I'll admit, the scenario is quiet outlandish. Not too many people would look over the fact that some crazy man is living in the attic, but it makes way for some good stuff on celluloid. By the way, this is/was a made for television film that debuted on the USA network back in the day.
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