KNIGHT MOVES

US, 1992, 116 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Lambert, Diane Lane, Tom Skerritt, Daniel Baldwin.
Directed by Carl Schenkel.

Knight Moves is an interesting and entertaining murder mystery. It is set in the world of international Chess Championships and uses chess as an image for the serial killer stalking victims and confronting the chess champion whom he wants blamed for the murders.

Christopher Lambert (Greystoke, Highlander) is some what hard to believe as a world class champion - but audiences identify with him because of the of the plot. Diane Lane is the psychiatrist. Tom Skerritt is the investigating police and is assisted by Daniel Baldwin as an obnoxious investigator.

The film is set in Washington State, has the atmosphere of the north western U.S. - and audiences will enjoy the complexities of the mystery as well as the chess game of the murderer.

1. Interesting and entertaining murder mystery thriller? The world of chess?

2. The title, chivalry, games, wits, winning and defeat? Chess and its intricacy? Checkmate?

3. The west coast, the American city, the island, the locations? The interiors: the hotel and the basement, the chess tournament room? The computer?

4. The stunts, special effects? The murders? Action? The musical score?

5. The prologue, the chess championship, the involvement of the two boys, winning and losing? The boy writing his notes? The vicious boy stabbing the others with the pen? The vicious boy, his home life, the absent father, the mother, her death and bleeding? His cold response emotions but suppressed?

6. Peter Sanderson as chess master? The history of his career, winning and losing? His success at games, present at the tournament? Audiences wondering which boy he was? (But his habit of writing down his results and moves) his wife and her death, the distance between them and her letter, Cathy's presence after it, learning the truth? his love for his daughter? The clash between being a father and a world champion? His friendship with Jerome, Jerome coaching him, family friend and support? His ambitions, rivalries? The Russian rival and the game? The pictures of playing the games, thinking, moves, the clock, the computer? the flirting with the assistant, the sexual encounter, the aftermath? Her death? His being a suspect, his weak alibis? His character? Frank and Andy Wagner and their investigation, interrogations? The clash with Andy? The encounter with Cathy in the sauna? His cool manner, continuing the games, studying his moves? The further deaths? The police and their blame? Discovering the truth about Cathy? The phone calls, the police listening in? His angers and the tracking of the phone calls? His personal relationship with Cathy, her suspicions, the numbers in the phone book and her fear? The games and the discovery of the code, the police and the investigation, Peter and his understandings? David and the computer grids? His injury? The attack on Cathy with the bandaged hand? The final game, his return, the arrest? Jail, the interrogations, the escape? The code and his realization that Erica was the victim. Finding Andy dead? The basement, the confrontation with David? The fight? The truth about the situation, about himself?

7. David as the killer, the young boy and his angers? The death of his mother, the blood? His computer? Agreeable with Peter and Erica? helping? The violence of the murders, his plan? The riddles? The final revelation, the fight and the final violence?

8. Frank as police inspector, tough, his men, loyalties? working with Andy? Andy's obtuseness? The investigation of the corpses, the examinations? The demanding work? Suspicions of Peter? finding him out, her information? The phone calls, listening in, his bias? The tracking of the victims locations, the real investigation and getting Cathy to sound the riddles? Andy and the estate agent, the grid, the stakeout at the apartments? The surveillance of the chess opponent? The final murder, the attack on Cathy? The arrest, jail? Frank overcome and Peter's escape? The confrontation - and David slitting Frank's throat?

9. Addy and his age, tough, boorish? Reaction to the violence? Suspicions of Peter and dislike? Brashness, language? in the action, the corpses, the investigations? Suspicions, surveillance, angers? His finally going to save Erica - and his death?

10. Cathy, her appearance in the sauna, talking, with Peter - and their revelation that it was her job? Her relationship with the head of the Institution? Her work, talking and listening, the relationship with Peter? Her fears - the phone,
the reconciliation? The shoe and its imprint at the institution? The attack on her and her fear that it was Peter? The psychologist, the computer and identifying the murderer? Her relationship with Erica? The final confrontation?

11. The head of Psychology, the investigations, the medical staff? The killer and his presence in the institution and on the computer?

12. The chess world, rivalries, and the eccentric behaviour of the Russian opponent? His being a suspect? The games, the officials, the rituals? The screen and computer? The audience?

13. The victims, their connection, the estate agent - and David and his calculating and cruelty?

14. Satisfying thriller, mystery and chess moves?