On A List of Movie Reviews
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As Good as Dead (1995)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
6/13
6/13:
Low-key films can turn out well, and one of them is As Good as Dead.
The winning features are the acting, the noirish feel, the mystery, and the pace. Sure, it's predictable as soon
as Judge Reinhold appears, but he makes the show fun to watch. I've never thought of him as anything else other than a
comedian. There's a Tex Murphy look about him. If you aren't familiar with the name, just look it up on the internet
along with Under a Killing Moon.
Traci Lords should be credited for getting the film off to a fast, upbeat start, and Crystal Bernard of Wings fame does a
nice job of carrying it until Judge Reinhold steps in to help her out more.
The biggest downfall is that Susan Warfield's identity could've been cross-checked based on her weight, height, and other
characteristics to make sure it's the same person. There's no way the company forgot about Susan right after her death.
I'm sure there would've been pictures of her around the office.
If the real Susan showed up at the police station with her lawyer, she would've gotten a slap on the wrist by admitting
to a honest mistake. But she went too far and made a series of blunders. Involuntary manslaughter or negligent homicide,
although as harsh as it sounds, makes the most sense because Susan might have had her friend unintentionally killed because
of the wrong blood type. No matter what, the premise is good for a mystery thriller picture. So, all the
credit goes to Larry Cohen for penning another story after he did Best Seller and
Guilty as Sin.
All in all, As Good as Dead is a little-known gem in the neo-noir genre.