On E List of Movie Reviews

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Eye for an Eye (1996)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 1/20

EyeForEye
1/20: Eye for an Eye is a watchable psychological thriller that has more bad points than good.

When Karen McCann's rapist got left off the hook on a technicality in seemingly 48 hours while the crime scene was still fresh because of insufficient DNA evidence, I couldn't believe it because there's no way that would've happened. There's plenty of circumstantial evidence to link him. All the detective and the prosecutors had to do is to work harder.

For starters, the obvious thing to do is to pinpoint Robert Doob's whereabouts given his delivery schedule. Once there, I'm sure he would've left footprints and hair samples, among other things. The daughter wouldn't have died without putting up a struggle, hence the scratch marks on Doob's arms, leaving some blood at the crime scene.

Another fact that's overlooked is the whole thing didn't look like it was the first time for him; Robert Doob knew what he was doing which means he did it before. The next one should put him away because of the same pattern. Karen McCann can be used for a witness because she saw him staking out a house for his next possible victim. It doesn't matter if she was following him. Her actions don't meet the definition of a stalker.

The next part that bothers me slightly, but I'm going to let it go because everybody is different, is how little Karen McCann and her husband grieved for their deceased daughter. They sure moved on quickly, too. It's kind of sour note throughout the film, prompting me to think of The Crossing Guard. For the most part, Eye for an Eye is the female version of Death Wish, but vigilantism is illegal all the same although it's understandable that what Doob did hurts a lot.

As for the acting performances, everybody is fine. Sally Field is passable. Her Places in the Heart co-star, Ed Harris, is strangely relegated to the background, having a small impact. So, why is he in the movie? Playing a James Hetfield look-alike, Kiefer Sutherland probably gives the best performance of his career. I'm only saying this because he has never been a good actor who's consistently typecast in so many villainous roles.

All in all, Eye for an Eye generates controversy for the handling of the rape-murder case more than anything else.