Michelle Johnson Movies
Born in Alaska, blonde actress Michelle Johnson had to journey to an entirely different hemisphere to attain screen stardom. Cast as Michael Caine's topless teenaged amour in 1984's Blame it On Rio, Johnson received excellent notices, most of which forecast a long and fabulous career for the 19-year-old actress (reviewers barely paid attention to Johnson's young co-star Demi Moore). Since Rio, however, Johnson has made do with a number of forgettable potboilers, with a few scattered appearances in such A-pics as Gung Ho (1986) and Far and Away (1992). On television, Michelle Johnson was seen in the pilot for the 1987 Fox Network series Werewolf (1987), and has evinced a predilection for appearing in TV movies based on spectacular murder trials: she was cast in both films based on the Betty Broderick case, as well as the 1994 dramatization of the Mendendez Brothers imbroglio. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1987
Spanish hack Rene Cardona, Jr. (of Aztec Mummy fame) directed this gory rip-off of The Birds (not a parody as its goofy title suggests) which follows a reporter/photographer team (Michelle Johnson & Christopher Atkins) as they investigate frequent reports of lethal bird attacks on humans. They eventually conclude that the attacks -- which are increasing in size, frequency and severity -- are part of an orchestrated avian plot against mankind. They could have saved themselves a lot of trouble by screening Hitchcock's classic chiller beforehand, just as viewers expecting a spoof of that film can save themselves the grief of enduring this bloody exercise, which pulls no punches in its graphic depiction of flesh-rending bird attacks. Gore-hounds should approve, as the makeup effects are painfully convincing, but die-hard Cardona fans may be disappointed to learn that no lady wrestlers actually step in to swat at the winged tormentors. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Atkins, Michelle Johnson, (more)
This attempt to remake the clever 1977 French farce Un Moment d'Egarement stars 50-film-a-year man Michael Caine as an executive named Matthew Hollis, who, together with friend Victor Lyons (Joseph Bologna), travels to Rio de Janeiro on business. Victor sets out on the town in search of a lambada partner, leaving Matthew to fend for himself against his friend's over-sexed teenage daughter (Michelle Johnson), who's come along for the ride. Soon, Matthew succumbs to her advances, despite his efforts to break off the affair, and finds himself a repeated statutory rapist, at least by American legal standards. The script plays out like an extended version of Three's Company, with lots of near-misses and dumb-dumb humor; critics aptly noticed Caine's apparent discomfort throughout the film. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Joseph Bologna, (more)
This passable made-for-cable-TV vampire opus explores the clever concept of a Transylvanian immigrant community in the western United States. Young Cody (Jason London) is introduced to their legacy one fateful night when his parents are awakened, staked, and set on fire by ruthless vampire-hunters. After a narrow escape, Cody seeks out a distant uncle in Long Beach -- who happens to be a key figure in the "Carpathian-American" mob. Cody is eventually inducted into the culture, which is represented by various social strata, from a lawyer/journalist couple (who encourage further assimilation into non-vampire society), to a bloodsucking teenage biker gang. Cody becomes a full-fledged member of the family, learning the real secret which binds the community... but the new path to his destiny is soon blocked by the untimely arrival of the hunters, who have tracked him cross-country to his new family's Long Beach lair. This was originally conceived as a pilot for a TV series, and it shows -- the tendency to lapse into soap-opera conventions is all too apparent -- but benefits from a glossy look, high production values and some interesting plot twists. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Photographer Robert Patrick skyrockets to fame with his bizarre layouts, depicting faked scenes of death and sexual violation. One of Patrick's clients is Michelle Johnson, the look-alike of a famous rock star. Developing an obsession with Johnson, Patrick is the prime suspect when she's murdered. From here on in, we're in Vertigo country, with a little Blow-Up thrown in for good measure. While the mystery is easily solvable, the tension level in the film's final scenes is enough to compensate for its "borrowings" from earlier films. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
In this sudsy made-for-TV installment of the Ewing saga, wily J.R. (Larry Hagman) finds himself discontent merely managing an oil conglomerate and decides to try to regain control of his father's company from Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Sue Ellen (Linda Gray). But first he needs money. Opportunity knocks when he discovers that Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly) has a large untapped supply of oil upon his land. Best of all, Krebbs is ignorant of this fact. Unfortunately, J.R.'s long-time rival Carter McKay (George Kennedy) also knows about the oil and is not about to let J.R. get it. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, (more)
"Never trust a man after midnight," mutters Vicky Mayerson (Michelle Johnson) in a bit of untimely advice she offers to her victims just before their life drains out entirely. The young serial killer is determined to murder each and every man who had assaulted her during her high school career, but she didn't count on the investigative prowess of detective Laura Underwood (former Baywatch actress Alexandra Paul). Directed by Marc S. Grenier, Eternal Revenge also features Anthony Michael Hall, Vlasta Vrana, and David Byron Elkin.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alexandra Paul, Vlasta Vrana, (more)
- 1992
When a San Diego socialite is convicted of murdering her ex-husband and his new bride, truth is stranger than fiction as she hires a public relations firm in an effort to keep the media in her corner. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meredith Baxter, Judith Ivey, (more)
- 1994
Moira Davis (Shannon Tweed) is married to a doctor, Daniel Davis(Joseph Cortese), but their relationship is in bad shape; he has seduced several of his patients and treats Moira with careless cruelty. She has frequent dreams in which she visits a large house; inside she meets a handsome man named Nick (Andrew Stevens), who is always waiting for her in the bedroom where they make love. One day, Moira sees a house just like the one in her dream -- and to her surprise, Nick, the man from her dreams, is waiting inside. Moira and Nick soon fall into a passionate love affair, but when a jealous Daniel intervenes, it's up to Nick to protect Moira. Illicit Dreams reunited Andrew Stevens (who directed as well as starred) and Shannon Tweed, who had previously appeared together in the cable-TV staple Scorned (they'd appear together again in Scorned 2). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In this made-for-TV action adventure, some criminals terrorize a Seattle-bound bus filled with innocent passengers after a kidnapping goes awry. Michael O'Keefe stars as Jack Boulder, a just-released ex-con who, along with some resourceful characters, helps his fellow bus passengers defend themselves against kidnappers who have been duped out of their ransom money. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael O'Keefe, Linda Purl, (more)
Set during the years when Australia was a newly established British colony reserved for prisoners, this feminist oriented drama centers upon a band of escaped female convicts who flee into the outback after killing their guard and taking a judge's daughter hostage. It doesn't take them long to learn survival skills and set up a new society in their hostile new environment. The story's climax comes when soldiers catch up to the women. A bloody, brutal battle ensues as the women fight for their freedom. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lillian Crombie, Jeune Pritchard, (more)
- 1994
We'd rather not rehash the sordied Menendez murder case in this space; besides, it isn't necessary, inasmuch as no fewer than two TV movies were produced on the subject in 1994. The first was Fox's Honor Thy Father and Mother; the second, telecast less than a month later, was Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills. Two hours longer than the first film, Menendez spends half of its running time recounting the events leading up to the Menendez brothers' murder of the parents, while the second half devotes itself to their overpublicized trial. Lyle and Eric Menendez are played, respectively, by Damian Chapa and Travis Fine. Edward James Olmos and Beverly D'Angelo costar as the ill-fated parents, while Margaret Whitton is cast as attorney Leslie Abramson. Once past the most lurid aspects of the case-notably the Menendez boys' insistence that their crime was motivated by extreme parental abuse-this 4-hour wallow gets pretty tiresome. Menendez was originally telecast in two parts, on May 22 and 23, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward James Olmos, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1989
His face ruined by plastic surgeon Dr. Simon Brill (Nicholas Pryor), wealthy recluse Leslie Hunzinger (Andrew Robinson) wants to sue Brill for malpractice, and hires David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) to gather the necessary investigation. Their investigation leads the detectives down a long and winding trail of broken hearts and vengeful females. In fact, things get so complicated that at one point, the comment is made that Moonlighting probably won't be able to get 22 episodes in the can this season after all! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
This unforgettable episode is set at Universal Studios, where Jessica (Angela Lansbury) has arrived to supervise the film version of her novel "Messengers of Midnight." It isn't long before Jessica has had a confrontation with the film's abrasive producer Darryl Hayward (Ron Leibman), who seems to revel in making enemies, among them his leading lady Leonora Holt (Paula Prentiss). While paying a visit to the infamous "Bates Hotel" set from Hitchcock's Psycho, Jessica stumbles across Darryl's dead body--in the shower, of course! Henry Gibson appears as an obsessed fan of Leonora's, who just happened to be in the "Psycho House" when the killing occurred. Naturally, the episode is brimming with "inside" movie and pop-culture references, courtesy of scriptwriter (and future Babylon 5 maven) J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Former jewel thief turned insurance investigator Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell) has changed professions once more, and is now chief of security on a cruise ship. When a woman is found dead in the ship's cargo section, it soon develops that virtually everyone on board is either a thief or a liar--not to mention a potential murderer. The only passenger whom Dennis can trust is his old friend Jessica (Angela Lansbury), who of course agrees to help him solve the case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
This unusual thriller concerns a man who has gone on a vacation with some friends. One night he meets a woman and impulsively decides to go home with her. He wakes up the next morning to discover something horrible has happened to him. A trip to the doctor confirms that someone removed one of his kidneys, and now the man needs to find out who did it, why it happened and who has his kindey now. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Wincott, Michelle Johnson, (more)
A raging ex-wife exacts revenge on her former husband in this made-for-television drama. Based on a true story, Meredith Baxter stars as Betty Broderick, the well-to-do ex-wife of Dan Broderick (Steven Collins). Furious at Dan for divorcing her and attempting to get on with his life, the insanely jealous Betty instigates some nasty encounters that culminate with murder. Baxter gives an all-out, over-the-top performance as the crazed ex-wife. This installment was followed by another TV-movie entry, Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, The Final Chapter. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meredith Baxter, Stephen Collins, (more)
- 1987
Werewolf was the pilot film for the Fox network TV series of the same name. John J. York plays Eric, a handsome young man who is bitten by a werewolf. He must find the source of the lycanthropic bloodline if he's to save himself from a lifetime of requiring sudden shaves and baying at the moon. Offering to help Eric is sea captain Chuck Connors, who turns out to be the centuries-old wolfman whom York seeks. Adding to our hero's travails is a bounty hunter by the name of Alamo Joe (Lance Le Gault). We're tipped to the fact that we shouldn't take Werewolf all that seriously by the character name given Chuck Connors: Janos Skorzeny, the same name as the vampire portrayed by Barry Atwater in the classic 1971 TV movie The Night Stalker. Werewolf premiered on July 11, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Jumping fairly late on the slasher-movie bandwagon, this stylish but hollow effort from director Manny Coto stars L.A. Law's Larry Drake as the psychopathic Evan Rendell, who fancies himself a misunderstood medical genius. In an inventive opening scene, Rendell performs a bit of impromptu surgery on his keepers at the asylum (who had given him the title nickname due to his fits of nervous laughter) and escapes to his hometown to set up his "practice." This medical mania seems to run in the family, as we are shown in flashback: Evan's daddy once butchered several local women in his search for a replacement heart for his wife, and although he was unable to save her, Pops managed to spirit away young Evan and keep him safe (in a very, very nasty hiding place) before being lynched by the locals. Hiding out in the abandoned family home, "Dr. Giggles" begins a random killing spree in town with his bag of medieval-looking surgical instruments... but he finds new purpose when he sees the medical records of young Jennifer (Holly Marie Combs), who is in line for a heart transplant, and vows to "cure" her himself. This film eschews the possibilities of its demented premise, choosing instead to serve up a flavorless hash of '80s slasher clichés (wisecracking killer, stupid teenage victims, virginal heroine, 20-years-later motif, etc.). The only truly inspired moment occurs in flashback, when we discover the actual hiding place the elder Dr. Rendell chose for his son. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry Drake, Holly Marie Combs, (more)
- 1989
- R
Peter Berg stars as Henry, a chronic gambler forever in trouble with the mob and the law. Through the auspices of his old friend Cowboy Jack (M.K. Harris), Henry is hired as an all-around flunkey by gang boss Paul Hellwart (Terence Stamp). But there's a problem: Henry is currently sexually involved with a nubile young miss (Michelle Johnson) who happens to be Hellwart's main squeeze. Disloyalty begets violence, and violence begets more violence. Anyone looking for logical character development and clever plot twists will be disappointed by Genuine Risk, though action fans will get their fill. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Terence Stamp, Peter Berg, (more)
- 1996
- R
In this fast-paced actioner, Michael Dudikoff plays a bounty hunter whose latest quest for a bail jumper lands him in the middle of war between rival Russian mafia gangs. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Dudikoff, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1988
- R
When a biker's retarded brother is murdered, three irresponsible out-of-town college girls, Genevieve (Anastasia Fielding), Carlyle (Michelle Johnson), and Alex (Cristen Kauffman), are blamed for the boy's death, leading to deadly consequences. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michelle Johnson, John di Aquino, (more)
Two cops with almost nothing in common find themselves brought together to capture a psychotic murderer in this action thriller. Jack Cole (Steven Seagal) was once a government intelligence operative known as "The Glimmer Man," because he could move so quickly and quietly that his victims would only see a glimmer before they died. Having left international espionage behind him, Cole -- steeped in Eastern mysticism and not used to working with others -- has become a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he's paired up with Jim Campbell (Keenen Ivory Wayans), a tough, no-nonsense cop with a weakness for weepy movies (Casablanca is one of his favorites) and little patience for Cole's New Age philosophies and outsider attitude. Cole and Campbell have to set aside their differences when they're assigned to track down a serial killer the press has dubbed "The Family Man," for his habit of dispatching entire households at once. However, when the Family Man's latest victims turn out to be Cole's former wife and her current husband, Campbell learns about Cole's secret past, and they both think that Cole's former bosses may somehow be involved with this current crime wave. Leading man Seagal also wrote and played guitar on several blues-based songs that appear on the film's soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Seagal, Keenen Ivory Wayans, (more)
- 1988
- R
In this horror film, an evil magician creates a wax display of famous monsters and murderers and invites a group of unsuspecting young college students to view the collection. However, when the kids are trapped in the deadly displays, one-by-one they soon discover that the wax models are more than they appear to be. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zach Galligan, Deborah Foreman, (more)
