Unlawful Entry

When a knife-wielding intruder invades the spacious LA home of Michael and Karen Carr (Russell and Stowe), along comes friendly neighbourhood policeman Pete Davis (Liotta), whose concern leads the trio towards an unlikely friendship. But that's before the cop turns out to be a psycho who gets Michael caught up in a spiralling nightmare and starts making moves on Karen. Kaplan is in his element in the first half, neatly stressing social differences; but the contrivances which alienate the couple become more glaring as we approach the OTT climax demanded of the genre. It's all designed to keep you on the edge of your seat (none too excusably in an over-extended prelude preying on fundamental fears of rape). Solid performances lend weight to the flakier elements, with Liotta turning crazed excess into something wild.