Mike Hodges has had a crazy career. Who else could make both Flash Gordon, Pulp and Get Carter? This film is even stranger, a tale of Martha Travis (Rosanna Arquette), a carny clairvoyant who is traveling the rails with her father (Jason Robards), pulling off that old cold reading trick, letting people feel better about their dead loved ones. One night, however, she predicts a death, which starts spiraling her life - and everyone connected to it like journalist Gary Wallace (Tom Hulce, Amadeus) - out of control.



After predicting the death of a whistleblower, Martha is soon followed by the police, the press and the man who keeps killing anyone to keep the secrets of industry. While she was once content to use her gifts for showmanship, now she feels the need to tell her growing audience that there is nothing left in the great unknown. Worse, she is starting to see how each of them will die.

This is an anachronistic film, because if you asked me when it took place, I'd say the 1930's, but there are references to R2D2 in the dialogue. That kind of incredulity makes me love this movie even more. It's a shame that it was basically dumped on release. No surprise, it was produced by Miramax over here.

The movie begins as a rip-off of Richard Brooks' "Elmer Gantry" (1961)(R. Arquette recalling Jean Simmons),then continues as a " the eyes of Laura Mars" (1978)imitation.Then finally David Cronenberg's "dead zone" serves as an inspiration to the director for the finale.The epilogue,whIch tries to "surprise" the audience has already been used one hundred times or more.

Arquette's character's behavior does not make much sense:now a chaste and sweet saint,now a formidable nymphomaniac who rapes poor Tom Hulce .It's a cock and bull story,and as I've already said,the magpie syndrome is rampant.Best avoid.

Are you? Kidding aside and I have to say the summary line another reviewer used made me chuckle - "too preachy" - which is a nice joke even if not entirely to the point of the movie. Or missing the points of the movie. That doesn't matter though if you can engage in this otherworldly feel the movie gives you and dives into.

Patricia Arquette is quite mesmerizing ... Robard is an amazing actor anyway. But they have certain scene, where some may feel confused. And they are there for a reason. I don't think one time viewing is enough to actually get everything the movie dishes out and serves us. I am sincerely surprised I never had heard about this until a really well restorated Blu Ray was released in the UK. I'm glad they did that, even if the movie may never reach a wide audience. But if you are into movies that are hard to predict (yes the overall outcome is clear from the start, since we then delve into flashback), but there is way more than meets the eye ... or camera lense for that matter! Watch and enjoy ... and maybe even understand! You better believe that ;)