Often truth can be stranger than fiction, as apparent in this harrowing tale of a psyco doctor who finds creative ways to murder his patients. Apparently, the film was based on case studies in both the United States and Great Britain.
Kate Ryder has returned to her roots, arriving back home with a trailer filled with her belongings and her little boy Sammy. She is reunited with her half-sister Jess, who runs the local Dad's Diner. She also rekindles an old flame with Tom Sullivan, a hard-working fireman in the Ridgewood community.
Kate succeeds in landing a job as the administrative assistant to Dr. Mark Lucas, who has taken over his father's practice. When local residents start dropping like flies, dying under suspicious circumstances, Kate suspects the doc of foul play. She goes on a quest to find a paper trail to convince the skeptical Sheriff Cooper to make an arrest.
Despite the unpleasant content, the filmmakers moved the action along at a brisk pace, and there is an interesting set of relationships developed in the small town. Kate's stepsister Jess had a strong attraction to Dr. Lucas, flirting ostentatiously by complaining of "hot flashes" and setting an appointment with the good doctor for a complete physical examination. It had to be bittersweet for Jess to learn the truth about the man of her dreams.
My favorite character was Harry Goodman, the local taxi driver, who first warns Kate that Dr. Lucas is a very bad man. Kate was slow in taking Harry's good counsel, which led to the unfortunate demise of the poor cabbie.
There was a strong character study in the protagonist, as Kate Ryder was still grieving the loss of her husband Craig, who died a violent death in a New York subway station. It turned out, however, that just as great a threat was posed to Kate and the good people of the tiny community of Ridgewood whenever Dr. Lucas paid a house call.
Kate Ryder has returned to her roots, arriving back home with a trailer filled with her belongings and her little boy Sammy. She is reunited with her half-sister Jess, who runs the local Dad's Diner. She also rekindles an old flame with Tom Sullivan, a hard-working fireman in the Ridgewood community.
Kate succeeds in landing a job as the administrative assistant to Dr. Mark Lucas, who has taken over his father's practice. When local residents start dropping like flies, dying under suspicious circumstances, Kate suspects the doc of foul play. She goes on a quest to find a paper trail to convince the skeptical Sheriff Cooper to make an arrest.
Despite the unpleasant content, the filmmakers moved the action along at a brisk pace, and there is an interesting set of relationships developed in the small town. Kate's stepsister Jess had a strong attraction to Dr. Lucas, flirting ostentatiously by complaining of "hot flashes" and setting an appointment with the good doctor for a complete physical examination. It had to be bittersweet for Jess to learn the truth about the man of her dreams.
My favorite character was Harry Goodman, the local taxi driver, who first warns Kate that Dr. Lucas is a very bad man. Kate was slow in taking Harry's good counsel, which led to the unfortunate demise of the poor cabbie.
There was a strong character study in the protagonist, as Kate Ryder was still grieving the loss of her husband Craig, who died a violent death in a New York subway station. It turned out, however, that just as great a threat was posed to Kate and the good people of the tiny community of Ridgewood whenever Dr. Lucas paid a house call.