Torchlight (1984) Reviews

• Lackluster cautionary tale

  moonspinner552007-03-24

  Pamela Sue Martin, then part of the acting ensemble on TV's "Dynasty", co-wrote, co-produced and stars in this tatty tale of drug addiction. Martin and Steve Railsback are the loving California couple who are ripped apart by cocaine, but Railsback--a somewhat over-eager actor with wildly active eyes and tics--was fundamentally wrong for the role of an "ordinary" man who gets hooked on coke and loses control (the viewer can easily see Railsback was over-wound to begin with). Martin is a strong, dependable actress who should be commended for this attempt to broaden her capabilities, but the film's budget is low and the script, while well-meant, is full of tired clichés (updated clichés for the 1980s). Whatever good will Martin manages to build is mitigated by the pretentious finale, which has to be seen to believed. *1/2 from ****

• Perfectly awful but McShane perfectly chilling

  MrsAlSwearengen2005-09-04

  This movie is so bad it's almost great, on the order of a SHOWGIRLS type fiasco. I recommend finding a copy in some bargain bin or video store and inviting a few sarcastic friends over for lots of laughs. Viewers are supposed to care about the couple (Pamela Sue Martin and Steve Railsback) but the creep-factor is so high whenever Railsback is on screen, it's hard not to shiver with repulsion and fear at him. He looks like he's going to turn into a zombie and eat Pamela Sue's head off at any moment. There is no way anyone like Pamela Sue's sweet and innocent character would get involved with the weirdo Railsback plays! Whoever cast this movie has some 'splainin' to do! That said, watching the downward spiral of Railsback's character into the drug world is highly entertaining, if only because it brings him into contact with a sweating, primped, slick-haired, and fascinatingly evil Ian McShane. As usual, when McShane is on screen, you cannot take your eyes off him. He plays Railsback's drug contact - and as someone else said - would fit right in as a character in SCARFACE or THE SOPRANOS. He acts everybody out of the water in this one. Mcshane once said he'd 'rather be sh*t in a hit than a hit in sh*t." Unfortunately, he was definitely the latter in TORCHLIGHT!

• worst movie ever made

  SlowDave12008-10-12

  I only regret that they don't allow negative ratings on here. Here's my plot spoiler: successful couple, man gets on coke, loses job, does more coke, loses marriage, house, does more coke, loses everything else, does more coke, loses everything else else that wasn't in the first everything else, does more coke... the end. I kept thinking SOMETHING would happen, but no, I was wrong. I saw this movie when it first came out, over 20 years ago, and have continuously referred to it as the worst movie ever made. I guess I should really see it again to confirm that I still feel that way all these years later, but I'm not willing to go through that ordeal. Anyone that had anything to do with this movie should be banned from movies or TV or anything else for life. That is all.

• Saw it being filmed on location

  Roland-Salazar2005-02-17

  It was kind of neat having the opportunity to see this movie being filmed on location. At the time I was living in Venice, Ca and just happened to see the live shoots on the way to the beach. It was interesting to see how Pamela Sue Martin was completely done over wig, etc and Charles Railsback also appeared completely different from his most memorable appearance in Helter-Skelter. I still have photos from the filming. I always wonder what ever became of these 2 great actors? The film itself actually creeps the viewer out to see how far drugs can take a person in to a living hell. I wish it would be shown again, its been years since i saw it.

• slow-going...

  scooby-411999-11-20

  Fairly entertaining, mostly tedious little drama about a man (Steve Railsback) who becomes addicted to cocaine. His wife (Pamela Sue Martin) attempts to help him. Martin is admittedly very good, but the movie itself is only so-so.