"KNIGHT MOVES" (1992)
Clever "Who-Done-It" Video Risk

Sometimes this film really works, other times, it just misses on a formula level. Solid mystery/thriller elements coupled with a rare good performance by the perfectly cast steely-eyed Christopher Lambert, in the lead role. Reminiscent of "Seven" made years later, "Knight Moves" effectively conceals its secret making it difficult if not impossible to discover the killer. This film is usually well received by most audiences judging from the reviews present on the Internet.

Lambert keeps you guessing in "Knight."

THE STORY - Peter Sanderson (Christopher Lambert) is a chessmaster who is returning to competition after a hiatus of several years. He is successfully disposing of his opponents by day and hooking up with beautiful women at night. Mysteriously, one of the women he spends the night with is killed in the strangest manner. The police suspect Sanderson and bring in a doctor named Kathy Sheppard (a hot Diane Lane) to psychoanalyze the odd chessmaster. Soon Sanderson is contacted by what appears to be the killer who leaves clues only the chessmaster could decipher. More murders follow as the trail becomes very intricate. Is Sanderson involved? Is he the killer? It is unlikely you will figure it out.

We have seen Skerritt ("Picket Fences") in the cop role before but here he is upstaged by Daniel Baldwin who gives us a bit of the over the top. Could a Baldwin be the killer?

THE REVIEW - Geekdom and admiration for the "Highlander" star aside, upon recent viewing with a cynical eye, I'm able to recommend this film. Back when I picked it up on video in the early 90s, I was in a good mood because another little mystery "Apartment Zero" had left a good impression. This film was much more mainstream than "Apartment Zero" but contained enough bite to leave me equally satisfied.

Lambert is good here. Although he is stonefaced and speaks his lines as though reading them, his performance is one of the reasons the mystery elements are concealed and effective. Unlike absolute misses for Lambert like the awful "Sicilian," "Knight Moves" is a good little film in which he is able to ply his unique ego. Because the audience will not warm up to him or not even like him, they will also not be surprised if he is the killer. The character of Sanderson is well written giving him a past with no explanations and allowing him to actively conceal evidence from the police investigation. Sanderson remains a question mark throughout the film.

The killer in "Knight" has real problems.

Low tech effects in "Knight Moves" can unnerve the viewers and actually enhance tension. The camera follows the killer, at times, with one neat addition unlike what we have seen so many times before, see "Tightrope" if you care. The victims look terrified and the manner in which they are disabled would rival anything utilized by Dr. Lecktor.

Ms. Lane gives us a hottie with smarts.

The supporting cast is good. Daniel Baldwin is unhinged and obnoxious as Detective Andy Wagner and his boss is played by the underused Tom Skerritt (who really knows his role here if he were only given more to do). Diane Lane is cool and believable as well as sexy in the role of the good doctor helping with the investigation.

Mystery fans should take a risk on "Knight Moves."

Jonathan Hickman