BLIND DATE

US, 1984, 99 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Bottoms, Keir Dullea, Kirstie Alley.
Directed by Nico Mastorakis.

Blind Date is one of many multiple murder thrillers so popular in the late '70s and early '80s. This one is quite good of its kind. It has attractive locations in Athens - often for decorative purposes rather than as part of the plot - and a strange 'Scalpel Murderer' (a medical student, taxi driver who follows his Passengers, stakes out their homes and - with a touch of prurient sex - murders them generally after their shower).

However, Joseph Bottoms is an American working for an advertising agency in Athens who becomes psychosomatically blind and has a device installed whereby he can 'see' by means of computer print-out in his brain. He then pursues the murderer. Keir Dullea has a small role who inserts the device. Kirstie Alley is an attractive heroine. While there are some violent touches, the film is an interestingly routine thriller - with a sequel promised at the end.

1. The popularity of the multiple murder thrillers? This film as a good example of its kind?

2. The use of locations in Athens? Attractive situations for a grim thriller? The use of the city? The special effects with the introducing of the computer device? The print-out and the way that it worked - the ability of the hero to look at the pictures and do his detection? Musical score - with the atmosphere of Greece?

3. The irony of the title - and indication of themes? The hero and his pursuing the girl who looked like Rachel, his being accidentally blinded, the psychosomatic condition?

4. Jonathan Ratcliffe and his work in the advertising agency, an American in Europe, his friendship with Claire? The attractive model and the memories of the hometown girl? His voyeur behaviour and its retribution in his going blind? His blindness remaining? Dr. Steiger and the insertion of the device? The sonar signals and his following them? His encounter with the thugs in the railway station - and the violent and ironic humour of his bashing them? The following of the murderer, the confrontation of the murderer in the swimming pool? His death?

5. Claire as attractive heroine, support of Jonathan, the final reconciliation?

6. The portrait of Dave, his work as a medical student, relationship with Rachel? The irony of his being the killer? The subjective shots for showing the killer, his stalking the victims, the brutal killings? The final retribution with Dave being exposed, confronted, killed with his own scalpel?

7. Dr. Steiger and his genius, how far-fetched the inserting of the experimental device for sonar contact and computer print-outs? A boon for the blind?

8. Rachel and the American girls in Athens for their glamour, for the advertising agency? The Americans in Europe with their affluence and glamour?

9. How effective the violent sequences? In proportion to an investigation and psychological thriller?

10. Satisfying entertainment of its kind? Portraits of characters? Melodramatic situations? Retribution? Resolutions?