A review by Helen R. Chavez

Serial murders are a serious - and deadly - business, and this inoffensive little film written by Nicholas Celozzi (who also stars as the serial killer in question) and Anthony Calabrese has all of the pertinent requirements for the 'serial killer movie' formula - dead prostitutes, a wife who has cheated on her neglectful husband, lots of hand-held camera shots, a Cute Puppy and two dogged policemen.

It's a tried and tested formula, and the writers steadfastly refuse to leave anything out, including the usual obvious red herrings, but Quiet Kill, despite this, isn't a bad little film at all.

What sets it apart from the usual 'run-of-the-mill' fare of this particular genre is a cast that plays the light-but-fun script to the hilt, and lifts the film slightly out of the mire. Ignore Corbin Bernsen as he's hardly in it (despite being touted as the star), but Claudia Christian and Celozzi both turn in neat performances as victim and killer respectively.

But the stars of this particular murder mystery are the two policemen assigned to the case - Detectives Perry (Ron Perlman) and Jackson (Jimmy van Patten).

A double-act of the first water, the chemistry between the two actors works wonderfully, and it's a real shame they aren't in the film a lot more. However, that little quibble aside, they are fun to watch.

The gum-chewing, cigar-smoking world-weary veteran cop Perry is the senior of the two, grouchy, tired and cynical. You get the feeling he's a beat-cop at heart, tenacious and tough, but extremely capable and a man who trusts his hunches. He's intelligent too - he understands the psychology of psychopaths all too well, and he is deeply troubled by the murders taking place almost under his nose.

Jackson, on the other hand, is likeable, witty and astute. He gently needles his partner - who grouses constantly about not having enough sugar in his coffee - is happy to do the leg work and is sharply observant and intuitive. These are two men who have worked together for a while, and are completely comfortable with one another. Two halves of a whole, they understand and trust each other's judgement, they watch each other's back and they know how the other thinks. Ideal fodder for a TV cop series.

Ron's performance in Quiet Kill is his usual adept interpretation of the honest but tired cop trying to get his man.

Perry is an interesting character. He likes his coffee sweet, and his cigars large.

He isn't the subtlest cop in the world, but he knows how to 'work' an interview with a suspect to perfection.

It's a beautifully nuanced and finely observed portrayal - from Perry's worn shoe soles to the file he constantly uses to neaten his nails, it's a quirky, charming performance.

So, if you don't mind a plot that's been done to death - if you'll excuse the expression - and you want something not too taxing for the little grey cells, then Quiet Kill might be the daytime TV thriller for you.

Fun, neatly written, nicely acted and with a sly twist in the tale, it's not bad at all.