LINK

US, 1986, 103 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Shue, Terence Stamp, David O’Hara?.
Directed by Richard Franklin.

Link is a piece of science fiction, horror, written by Australian author Everett de Roche (writer of many thrillers in the late '70s, early '80s, Patrick, Long Weekend) and directed by Richard Franklin (Psycho 2, Patrick, Cloak and Dagger).

It begins in the science fiction vein, with Terence Stamp as a professor in London studying apes. Elizabeth Shue (Karate Kid, Adventures in Babysitting, Cocktail) becomes his assistant. However, the apes are not all they seem to be, especially Link who has a great deal of intelligence. Once the professor decides Link has to be put down, Link begins his revenge and the film turns into suspense and horror. (However, the film could have been tightened a little - and most of the suspense takes place in daylight, a change from the usual night sequences.) There is an evocative pounding score by Jerry Goldsmith - which is led into by the playing of 'Hot Voodoo' and Marlene Dietrich singing it from Blonde Venus.

An unusual suspense science fiction film.

1. Impact of the thriller? Science fiction, horror? The work of Richard Franklin?

2. English atmosphere, the university, the mansion, the countryside and the sea? Jerry Goldsmith's score? The 'Hot Voodoo' song?

3. The presentation of the apes, the training, acting skills, editing to make them seem credible and almost human?

4. The title: apes, the chart of ape to human evolution, the Missing Link? Link the ape?

5. The prologue: the animals, subjective camera, the parents watching Blonde Venus and Marlene Dietrich on television? The child and her fear? Musical score? The purpose of the prologue?

6. The lecture, Professor Phillip and Imp, the students trying to get him out of the cage, his point about presuppositions, Jane and her answer, her request to be his assistant, his questions, acceptance?

7. Jane and her arrival, Link acting as the butler, the absentminded professor, the nature of the house, its environment, the sea and its beauty, isolation, the dogs?

8. The work with the apes: Voodoo and her death, Imp, Link? The treatment of the apes, their fierceness, computer learning and signs, response to language, the killing of animals? The tapes and their learning? Hearing? Jane and the intelligence test? Acting on instinct?

9. The professor, his book, absentmindedness, being at home with the apes, welcoming Jane, her working with him, cooking? His plans, the phone calls, the decision to put Link down, his mysterious death?

10. Link and his human qualities, behaviour, welcoming Jane, clothes, at the table, microwaving the telephone, listening to her call, the deaths, voodoo's dying, putting Imp in the well, his being forgiven, killing the dog to save Jane, following her, Jane and her search, his changing attitude, hostility to Bailey, pushing the car to the cliff, on the roof, locking doors, cleverness, shot through the door, pursuing the boys and killing them, the cigar and the gas, going onto the roof like King Kong, falling to his death?

11. Imp and Voodoo, Voodoo's death, the training, Imp chased by Link, Imp's surviving - and the suggestions at the end? Only a baby?

12. Jane and her experience, attractive, puzzled, the bizarre experiences, Link and the microwaving of the phone, her refusal to let Bailey in, coping, chased by the dogs, rescued by Link, the phone call from David, Link's change, the car, the cliff, discovery of the bodies, the boys, with David and his broken leg, fighting back in the house, her ingenuity with the gas?

13. The boys, happily singing, the arrival, the search, the violence?

14. Enough science fiction, enough suspense, enough horror to make this a distinctive film?