AJSteele This 80s film has a very good concept. What if you died and were cryogenically frozen immediately after, then thawed out years later. Would you be "soul-less?" Watch the film to find out.Some very creepy moments but it's basically a dated 80s TV movie. Why bother releasing a film to DVD if there is no desire to enhance it? To make money I know, but, it's just wrong. The picture quality is awful and that's enough to make you want to shut it off. The "film" could stand a remake with a much broader scope because of it's interesting premise. There are a dime a dozen horror films out there but I don't think this approach to terror has often surfaced. What makes the film all the more relevant is the fact that man-kind could actually come face to face with this issue for real.

Scarecrow-88 A young man(Michael Beck)has been under cryogenic stasis for approximately ten years when his tube malfunctions. His mother Marion(Beatrice Straight)is dead-set on seeing her son revived from the dead and is persistent that surgeons try to re-animate him with far more modern procedures and medical technology than they had the previous ten years he was in his death sleep. They do succeed, but this comes with a price..he emerges without a soul, merely a cold-blooded human monster with his own carnal cravings in mind. He's a threat to everyone around him because Miles is no longer the young man people once knew. Marion can not be convinced because of her blind loyalty and love..that long ten-year wait for your son's life brought back to fulfill the lonely void can keep many a person from what's obviously right in front of you. Miles fires trustworthy exec, Clarence(Dick O'Neill) who has kept the Creighton business afloat over the years since the passing of Marion's husband. Miles claims he just doesn't need Clarence anymore even though he lacks mere months until retirement. Miles moves Leigh Kenyon(Laura Johnson)into a made-up position so that he can sexually abuse her while paying the woman handsomely. He also cuts off the business' charity ties to save finances..including Reverend Penny's(Paul Sorvino)church. Miles also lustfully gazes at cousin Stacey(Jill Schoelen)from his room as she swims. It's only a matter of time before Miles turns homicidal..but, it's the fact that he has no conscience or reason which makes him a deadly threat to anyone who stands in his way. Not even mother Marion can halt Miles from pursuing his carnal appetites.Interesting look at what could happen if you bring a loved one from the dead..Craven is obviously limited by the television medium. I'm sure if he directed this as a theatrical film, the violence would have certainly been more potent. Miles' reign of terror is still quite chilling because Beck is so menacing in the title role. When he smiles, pure evil shows in abundance. Craven gets some terrific supporting performances from an able cast, especially Straight(who I thought was marvelous, as the mother hell-bent on seeing her son alive even though the consequences are disastrous)and Paul Sorvino as the minister who is shaken spiritually by the return of someone from death. The best scene in the film could be when Miles informs Penny that there is nothing but darkness when you close your eyes in death. The "crisis of faith" angle is an interesting one even if this aspect doesn't get developed much. There's a real tense scene where Miles drags Penny's carcass down the road, holding a devious grin on his face. I don't think the film(probably because of time constraints among other things, and limited funds)gets enough time to fully realize the great premise it has, but I thought the film was fairly entertaining. It's always nice seeing Schoelen, even in a much limited role. This is Beck and Straight's show, however, playing polar opposites..his evil against her good intentions. That tragedy of a mother having to put a stop to her son's evil ways is the center of the film's success I think. Good little movie, but could've been great. There's a terrific special effects sequence from Stan Winston..as Beck returns from a coma, underneath his skin are "pressure bubbles" which pulsate. It's really a cool scene and quite unnerving.

sublime_twilight Considering the circumstances and process of cryogenics and the impact that religion and belief systems have on an individual's actions throughout his/her life, this movie is intelligent, poignant and frightening in a realistic manner when considering though factors. Indeed, in the horror genre, most things are fantastically unbelievable, so the keep is to be opened minded when entering this and most any realm of fantasy.I have loved this movie since I was a little girl. When I was about five or six years old in "85 or "86, this movie would come on TV quite a bit. It always came on really late at night. My mother and I loved it. I kind of thought that Miles looked like Robert Palmer. As I reflect on this movie, I feel that it along with Critters, Carrie and Christine (my fours C's or horror films), sparked the beginning of my love of the horror genre. I have searched for this movie for years. I had a hard time finding it, because I couldn't remember the name of it. Finally, I decided to do a search for "cryogenics,hell, mother, son, priest," and the movie came up number 4 in the search. Thanks IMDb!!!!!

kraavitz Interesting topic. Pathetic delivery - script and direction. Our hero, Miles, thaws out and has his emergency world-first life restoration surgery. This is where the fun begins. The underlying issue is that Miles has NO SOUL!!! This is used to explain his quasi-erratic behaviour of being indirectly responsible for two deaths (I believe this to be the total number of deaths in 104 minutes). On the livlier side, Miles prefers the odd glass of brandy, blazing fireplaces and his young, maturing female cousin. The finale does indeed do justice to this film.Some thoughts: 1. Producer $$$ were parted with to create this tripe. J.D. Feigelson was the script writer and a (or sole) producer. Looks like he did not learn a lesson on "how not to bring an interesting idea to life" when one views his other writing credits. This will support the credibility of this script.2. Now available on DVD!!! This IS truly scary. Should be forever "Bottom of the Shelf" in VHS format.3. A re-incarnated human without a soul will default to an evil entity. 4. The score offers minimal support. Not even an in-form Jerry Goldsmith could save it.5. Deserved the 0230 time slot on TV and a touch more entertaining than the infomercials + test patterns it was competing against at the time of my viewing.6. Thankfully did not spawn any sequels ala Wes Craven's "Nightmare" franchise. Chiller Too: The Return Return of Miles, or something like that.Despite my rating of 1, I still recommend this movie as a great example of how to kill an acting or script-writing career. This should apply to directing, however Wes Craven will eternally be exempt due to his sole good piece of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" 1984.