AN EYE FOR AN EYE: "Rampage" Shows the Horror of Murder

Rampage," Director William Friedkin's new docu-thriller, shocks, oversteps and sometimes rages through its one hundred minutes of playing time. Delivering both more and less than it promises, "Rampage" is at times a nightmarish journey into the world of a serial killer, at times a philosophical exploration of the issues surrounding the death penalty, the insanity defense and violent crime.

Based on the true story of a Sacramento serial killer in the late '70s, the film emphasizes the normalcy of the victims' lives. Alex Trebec is bantering on "Jeopardy," a woman is washing the dishes in the kitchen sink, a child plays with a plastic toy--and seconds later the scene is a blood bath. Murderer Charles Reece (Alex McArthur) is literally the boy next door. The message? It could happen to anyone...It could happen to you.

Anthony Fraser (Michael Biehn) is the handsome young district attorney assigned to Reece's case. Ethically troubled when his boss instructs him to push for the death penalty on Reece, Fraser nevertheless bears up under pressure and in the end works the courtroom like a playboy in a French brothel.

The first half of the film is enjoyably fast-paced--and horrifying. The actors and actresses are accomplished and convincing as they are tormented in their ordeal. Friedkin proves that he can thrill and frighten, but he also has a point to make: The boundaries of law and ethics are fragile and often meaningless.

Midway through the film, Reece has been captured (disappointingly easy, at that--he's nabbed in a chase scene which culminates in Reece's laughable exclamation, "What? What did I do?") and if Fraser's job to prove that Reece is legally sane, and thus eligible for the death penalty. Thus the "docu" of docu-thriller.

A procession of psychiatrists occupy the witness stand to testify to Reece's sanity. Sporting either gross or sparse amounts of hair, these men are corrupt and generally loathsome--the audience is clearly expected to hate these men. In one scene, an obese, glaringly bald psychiatrist sputters, "We may be able to vaccinate against murder someday!"

Friedkin's subject matter is compelling. The viewer--willing or not--is challenged to develop an opinion about the death penalty.

"Rampage" stands out in its treatment of the ethical issues surrounding violent crime, but also falls solidly into the "thriller" genre. Similarities to "Silence of the Lambs" are most notable. In a scene strikingly reminiscent of Hannibal's grotesque escape, Reece ruthlessly murders his guards and flees. Like a homing pigeon, he heads straight for the neighborhood Catholic church, where he murders its priest in one of the only true bloody, gasp-and-scream moments of the film, and proceeds to drink the Father's blood from the Communion cup. Like Hannibal, Reece may be coming to have you for dinner!

Alternately ridiculous (brains in the basement!) and sublime (the scientific merit of psychiatry in the courtroom), "Rampage" is demanding and requires the viewer's perserverence to enjoy.

The film closes with the supposedly terrifying "true" disclosure that Reece might be released and out to get you in a matter of months.

But depending on the patience and flexibility of American viewers, "Rampage" might be on video by then.