Stephen Eckelberry Movies

Tom Arnold and C. Thomas Howell headline this family-friendly tale of a Sol Cal kid who must train his dog for apartment living after his dad gets a job offer in New York City, but finds the process interrupted by a nefarious dognapper intent on abducting his four-legged friend. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A devoutly religious college student seeking to escape her roommate and make a little extra cash becomes the target of a disfigured serial killer who stalks his helpless prey from outside of darkened rural windows. Having recently struck out on her own and found, Angie is eager to begin life away from her overbearing Catholic mother and support herself with a suitable job. One day, while passing by a campus bulletin board, Angie notices an ad for a babysitter and contacts the family to see if the position is still open. Before Angie knows it, she's arriving at the Stanton family's scenic farm and being introduced to their adorable little boy. Her job is simple: watch after the sleeping boy until his parents return. But the Stanton's house is enormous, and it isn't long before Angie is at the mercy of her own fears. Suddenly, the serine country silence is broken by the ringing telephone. But who is the anonymous caller on the other end? As if the frightening telephone calls weren't enough to shred Angie's nerve, now there's a mysterious figure lurking around in the darkness outside. There's a killer stalking this small town, and it doesn't take Angie long to realize that the same person who's peering in at her through the window is likely the same creep who's been butchering the local girls for months. As the tension begins to build and the situation turns threatening, Angie realizes that her only hope for survival is to fight back with everything she's got and hope that the local sheriff (Bill Moseley) will get to the farm before it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Burt Reynolds, Robert Loggia, and Charles Durning star in this crime comedy following three retired war veterans who stumble upon $4million in stolen mob money and quickly find themselves targeted by both the Mafia and the Feds. Sam (Reynolds), Carl (Loggia), and Eddie (Durning) have all managed to survive their turbulent tours of duty, and now all they want is to settle down and enjoy their retirement in the desert paradise of Sunrise Park - located just outside of Phoenix, AZ. Up until now, the biggest concern for these three friends was who would wind up winning the affections of their sultry neighbor, a former Las Vegas showgirl named Christine (Raquel Welch). The stakes get more than a little higher, however, when the Witness Protection Program drops mob-informant Angelo Nitti in their midst. Having recently turned evidence on some of the most dangerous underworld heavies around, Angelo has been given a new name and a new home in Sunrise Park. But despite the fact that he's come clean about his criminal life, Angelo still harbors a whopper of a secret: He's quietly stashed $4million in stolen mob money, and he's planning on spending the rest of his days in style. His plan hits a hitch, however, when his three neighbors discover the loot and head out on a wild spending spree. Now, as Angelo's secret spreads among both the underworld and the authorities, unsuspecting trio Sam, Carl, and Eddie soon find themselves pursued by trigger-happy treasure hunters on both sides of the law. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A woman who enjoys playing the field begins to ponder the relative merits of long-term commitment in this witty look at love, sex, and relationships. Stella James (Sean Young) lives in New York and wants two things out of life: a career as a gourmet chef and a satisfying relationship with a man. Stella shares a flat with her wealthy friend Teo (Dylan Walsh), but while they're close, their relationship is more platonic than romantic -- thanks in part to Stella's willingness to take up with any man that strikes her fancy -- and neither Stella nor Teo is entirely happy. In hopes of prodding her into doing something with herself, Teo gives Stella a gift -- an airline ticket to Los Angeles. In California, Stella finds a job in an upscale restaurant and soon begins making her way through a new batch of men; while she still enjoys picking and choosing from the many romantic prospects who cross her path, Stella finds herself becoming emotionally involved with George (John Heard), the owner of the dining room where she works. But is she willing to settle into the same sort of consistency in her love life that she's enjoying in her professional life? The supporting cast includes Karen Black, who also contributed to the screenplay; Mark Mothersbaugh composed the original score. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This unintentionally campy suspense thriller takes a large part of its plot from Hitchcock's Vertigo. Matteo Juarez, a former policeman in Palm Springs, has been emotionally devastated by his accidental death of a female hostage he was trying to save. Donald Gale, a wealthy capitalist and environmentalist, is determined to save California's unique Salton Sea. He hires Juarez to protect his mysterious wife. Jennifer is not all she seems. Juarez, who tails her, is surprised to find her working secretly as a blond wigged stripper. After saving her two times, Juarez falls in love with her. After she is brutally murdered, Juarez again sinks into depression, alcoholism, and self-blame. Things turn around when he encounters a waitress who appears identical to Jennifer. She says she is a recent Irish immigrant, but Juarez doesn't believe her and sets off to solve the mystery once and for all. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Three stalwarts of made-for-TV productions -- Harry Hamlin, Michael Ironside, and Steve Railsback -- team up for this erotic thriller. Hamlin plays a mild-mannered accountant who takes up with an intriguing stranger (Lysette Anthony), who happens to harbor multiple personalities: seductress, prude, and saint. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi