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Masquerade

M. Williams | Cardiff | 03/31/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A handsome gigolo, Tim Whalen (Rob Lowe), meets a wealthy heiress, Olivia Lawrence (Meg Tilley), and her selfish and domineering stepfather is far from happy with their relationship. The local cop (Doug Savant) also expresses an interest in the Lawrence girl.A subsequent string of murders puts each of the characters under suspicion and the wealthy Lawrence girl is suddenly caught up in a murderous plot that will see both her inheritance and her life put at risk.'Masquerade' is a tense thriller containing a multitude of twists and turns that keep the viewer guessing to the end. It is in the same vein as 'Bad Influence', 'Sleeping with the Enemy', and 'Dead Calm'. I first watched this film when it was released on VHS in 1988 ... it is still as exciting today. Watch it with someone you can trust.Also stars Kim Cattrall and John Glover.The extras include widescreen format and DVD quality picture."

Slick, stylish thriller

M. Williams | Cardiff | 03/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A handsome gigolo charms his way into the life of a beautiful young woman, heiress to a multi-million dollar fortune. After the loss of her mother, she lives with her self-indulgent stepfather, a ruthless cad intent on controlling both his stepdaughter's inheritance and her relationships. A local police officer also shows emotional interest in the heiress, having known her since childhood. But who can she really trust? 'Masquerade'is a dark and moody thriller, focusing on themes of money and greed, trust and betrayal. Reasonably-paced, and containing a multitude of twists and turns, 'Masquerade' is undoubtedly one of Rob Lowe's better thrillers. It is in the same vein as 'Bad Influence' and 'First Degree', with a talented supporting cast, including Meg Tilly and 'Sex and the City's' Kim Cattrall."

Underated Classic deserves to be Re-discovered

M. Williams | 12/01/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A brilliant spellbinding thriller in the genre of classic Film Noir, directed by Bob Swaim, winner of several French Cesars for his now classic French film, La Balance. Like in La Balance, Swaim's European sensibilities mixed with his American pacing makes this film not only one of the great suspenseful thrillers of the 80's but perhaps one of the most original. It's Meg Tilly's hottest, sexiest film and Rob Lowe's most convincing portrayal of a complex and contradictory character. Aside from being incredibly sexy, the film is full of twists and turns that keep the audience guessing. Why don't they make films like that, anymore? And what ever happened to Bob Swaim?The supporting roles are fabulous, particularly John Glover and Dana Delanny who give one of the best performances of their careers. Truly a classic, this underrated film deserves to be re-discovered."

Great Romantic Thriller: 4½ stars

C. A. Luster | 09/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Masquerade" takes places in a beautiful East Coast town, where a young, naive heiress, Olivia Lawrence (played by Meg Tilly), falls for a poor professional sailor, Tim Whalen (Rob Lowe). Olivia is without a family (her parents died, and she's an only child), but her detested, alcoholic stepfather, Tony Gateworth (John Glover), still hangs around. Unbeknown to her, Tony is in cahoots with Tim to swindle her out of her millions. Yet this secret is just a first of many to develop in this romantic thriller."Masquerade" has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager, though I did deduct a ½ star for the ridiculous boat accident with the rat at the end (poor rat). Regardless, this movie has everything: a great setting, suspenseful plot, heated romance, and a pretty good conclusion to satisfy most viewers. Rated R for several sex/nude scenes (Rob Lowe's derriere is visible quite a bit, for those who are interested) and some profanity."