Profile for Murder (1996) User Reviews

Lance Henriksen is the only reason to watch this .............

[merklekranz · 5/10 · 10 July 2011]

Lance Henriksen gives a strong performance in what is otherwise a very scrambled movie. Sure you get a couple sex scenes with Joan Severance, but unfortunately they are tied together with a pseudo seduction that is beyond boring. Henriksen's intriguing character driving his red Viper is more interesting than the anemic script. My biggest objection to "Profile for Murder" is that the film definitely takes liberties with the audience as far as believability is concerned, and the ending tries for twists and turns, that come out of nowhere. This is not one of Lance Henriksen's better movies, but it is a watchable Henriksen performance. - MERK

Combination of two films

[joe-152 · 5/10 · 31 March 1999]

Quite good like erotic film. Like a crime story is for me combination of "Silence of the Lambs" (scene in prison - L.Henriksen just like A.Hopkins?) and "Basic Instinct" (rivalry since school, sexual urge and surprising final). Though Lance Henriksen becomes him.

Good movie except for

[hms66 · 6/10 · 1 February 2004]

This is a good movie except for some of the details. The leading man is a little on the elderly side for the character he plays. He is supposed to be an investment banker. He wears an earring (to make him look younger?). Watching him taking Viagra would have been more convincing. Nevertheless, even with those handicaps, he delivers a credible character. The ME looks like a homeless man that believes that he is funny. The district attorney has a much self-control as a hungry coyote (A real one, not Peter). The leading character high power attorney acts more like Don Knotts than Perry Mason. The police department consists of two detectives with no forensic personnel. No wonder the Joan Severance character thinks she can do better detecting. The detectives look over the suspects appartment mostly out of curiosity. They never perform any kind of a search. It never occurs to them to search the suspects boat. The end is literally incredible. Other than these, the movie is not too bad.

Warning: not too good!

[Stu-42 · 3/10 · 13 May 2000]

I felt I had to warn any of you that were tempted by the all positive reviews of this movie so far. It wasn't the worst I've ever seen, but still bad none the less. One of the users even commented that it ripped off other films, yet praised it. Attempts to shock, just repels. Totally nonsense ending. Great looking women can only get you so far. 3 out of 10.

Better Than It Should Be

[refinedsugar · 7/10 · 14 March 2001]

Adrian Cross (Lance Henriksen) is a rich businessman who likes the night life and the young women that go along with that scene. Needless to say some are attracted to him. His money, attitude, rugged looks perhaps? No doubt. So when one turns up brutally murdered after a night-cap with Cross, he's held by the police as they try to put something together. Enter Dr. Hanna Carras (Joan Severance) as the police psychiatrist who studies him trying to get inside his mind.

See Cross is more than just a stereotypical rich man. His entire mind, body and soul spews charm in a not so everyday manner. He's got this forward way of talking. He tells it less than subtle sometimes, but the words always come out the same way. Sexy, tad provocative and biting, but is he the killer and is Carras slowly falling for him?

If you see your share of movies then the setup employed is typical, but the atmosphere is fine and Henriksen carries the movie away with ease so Lance Henriksen fans take note. It's unfortunate however that the movie is damaged by the third act where things add up too easily and the conclusion is reached very quickly. There's a nice touch at the end, but for some it might be hard getting over the fact that this comes off as just another direct-to-video erotic thriller and therefore not worth seeing.

In the end, I felt it was decent especially being a Henriksen fan. Having seen similar entries of the same type, I think you could do a lot worse than Profile For Murder.

Excellent psychological murder mystery/thriller.

[mythos-4 · 10/10 · 7 February 2000]

I really liked this movie. Lance Henriksen and Joan Severance both give compelling performances. Lance H. has a unique ability to combine mystery, menace, sensitivity and sexuality in the role of Adrian Cross. I find his rugged sensuality quite appealing. Beautiful photography.

This movie was moderately good! . . .

[tonopah6 · 8/10 · 15 December 2003]

. . . The only flaw was that Lance Henriksen was too old for the character he played, or that Jeff Wincott was too young for his character. You would find out what I mean when the ending arrives. I liked the Seattle area where this movie took place. Lance Henriksen's acting was very good--Joan Severance, too, who was looking fine as always, especially in that bathtub, doing her own version of a masturbating routine: if I remember right, ala Sharon Stone from 'Sliver.' This, and other Joan Severance movies need to be put on DVD!

Nice story plus hot and sexy

[ithedork · 10/10 · 29 September 1999]

I feel that Joan Severance (Dr. Hanna Carras in the film) is good in any film she plays in. This movie goes right to the top of my line, as a great movie.

The sex scenes are so, so, nothing hard core. The hot masturbation seen that Joan Sererance puts on is a must see.

A ten star movie in my book.

Definitely fits the profile

[videorama-759-859391 · 8/10 · 17 December 2013]

Here's a b grade, when finally acquiring it, I was not disappointed. It lived up to my expectations. Here's a good, psychological sexual thriller, where everything fall into place, where up until the end, you've been totally fooled. Adrian Cross (Henrickson) is the successful philanthropist/investment banker, (and I love the earring) who's the prime suspect in a series of brutal murders, involving beautiful young women. The killer leaves a neatly folded damp towel around as a trademark. Here's a guy who just has to roll up in his slick sports car, outside a club, and within the next thirty seconds, she's his, and he's taking the soon to be murdered beauty home. Assigned to his case is public defender, Joan Severance, who of course of falls in love with him, where she could be jeopardizing her life. The least amused is an old ex flame of Severance, a cop working the case, who really has it on for Cross, thoroughly convinced he's the killer. Or is he? Cross does push this cop's buttons in one scene, it's mutual hate on a grand scale. Really getting to know Cross, we really don't want to believe it's him, but our finger points so towards him, as in the opening, we see a quick series of shots, where we see him making him love with the victims, but also he keeps these sick intimate journals. This is a motive tight thriller that works, where up until the end, Cross has our undivided attention. An in the aftermath of the truth, Cross surfacing is still menacing. He too could be a killer, and probably is. After all, a leopard can't change his spots. A tight well constructed thriller, much more worthy of it's B grade appeal. I recommend this one to fans of this thriller genre out there.