Don't forget, I'm a lawyer. I've got friends in hell. The lawyer, who has just used his money to pay the mobster's ransom since the banks don't open until morning, doesn't want any untimely demise until he gets his loan paid back.
Dark comedies are among the most overused genres in Hollywood.
Many directors think that all they need to do is to turn down the lights, get a bunch of angst-filled actors, find an outlandish script and, voila, they've got a film noir a la Quentin Tarantino and a recipe for instant riches. Although many have failed, director Peter O'Fallon manages to make an intelligent and funny picture out of well-worn materials. They know who they are abducting, but they do not quite appreciate his cleverness or his tenacity. Walken, who manages to shine in movies good and bad, is at the top of his form here. Although he spends almost the entire picture lashed to a chair, his words and his devious smile command our complete attention.