Intensity

Plot synopsis:
Chyna Shepherd (Parker) accompanies her friend Laura Templeton to her house for Thanksgiving dinner. A serial killer named Edgler Vess (McGinley) invades the house and kills Laura and her parents, as Chyna hides in the killer's vehicle. When Vess stops at a gas station, Chyna escapes and asks the two attendants to call the police.
Before she has time to explain, Vess returns and murders the two workers with a shotgun. Chyna then learns that he is holding a 14-year-old girl named Ariel hostage in his basement. She becomes determined to save Ariel and follows Vess back to his home. On the road she runs into Miriam (Laurie) and asks her to call the police. The woman does not realize that Chyna is serious about the murders until she sees the two dead bodies back at the gas station.
Unfortunately, she is hysterical on the phone with the police, telling them that they 'need to save Chyna and Ariel,' which the police interpret as the ramblings of a lunatic. Upon trying to fall back to sleep, the policeman, Ethan Trevaine, remembers the name Ariel from a missing person's case and starts investigating. Trevaine starts to find clues on what type of vehicle the killer was driving, and what Miriam was talking about earlier.
Meanwhile, the car Chyna is driving runs out of gas so she leaves it in the middle of the road, forcing Vess to stop and push it out of the way. While he does so, Chyna runs back into his trailer and hides, unknowingly leaving foot prints. Intrigued, Vess decides to have some fun and pretend he does not know she is there. He then kills Miriam when she tries to run him off the road and save Chyna. When they arrive at the home, Chyna attempts to free Ariel from a fortified room but is attacked and subdued by Vess. As a captive, Chyna speaks with Vess and has flashbacks to her traumatic childhood: as a little girl, she witnessed her disturbed, abusive mother and her boyfriend kill her grandparents.
When Vess finally leaves for work, Chyna takes the opportunity to free herself from her chains. She then frees Ariel and attempts to flee with her in Vess's mobile home, but unwittingly triggers an alarm that alerts him to her actions and causes him to return home early.
Trevaine arrives at Vess's house, where Vess sets his vicious pet Dobermans upon him. Vess disguises himself as a State Trooper to make it appear as if Chyna had murdered her friends and the gas station employees and took Ariel as a hostage. Chyna gets the better of Vess, however: she sets him on fire, locks him in Ariel's old room, and watches as he burns to death.
In the aftermath, Chyna visits Ariel in a psychiatric hospital but is denied custody of her in a hearing; she is told that the catatonic young girl will require extensive therapy to recover from her trauma. As Chyna prepares to leave without her, Ariel suddenly calls out to her the name of "Badger", a character from a story Chyna had told her to bring her courage while escaping from Vess. The two embrace, and it is implied that Chyna then adopts Ariel.

Tags: murder

Review:
And I wasn't disappointed.The story was pretty ok, but what really caught my eyes were the two main characters: Chyna (the heroine) and Mr. Vess (the bad guy).
Mr. Vess on the other hand comes from a good loving family or so he states when Chyna tries to use inversed psychology with him (with no obvious luck) when she's being held captive at his house of horrors, aiming to save a missing girl named Ariel.Well coming from a good background or not, Vess is not the man you wanna mess with.
But what we also get to know very soon after seeing Mr. Vess for the first time in action, that he is in fact a genuine psychopath who likes to hunt not just game but also people during his morbid little trips on the road with his big bad VR in order to bring home some trophies to 'his' sweet Ariel.He's handy with his knife and careful with his life...
Particularly his facial expressions and deep sighing and quiet murmuring when playing with his knives added some chilling effects on the character.Now it's my time to recommend this great mini TV-series to all you people who haven't seen it.
Koontz novel, with a slight twist at the end that helps keep it fresh for even those like myself who had read the book before seeing the mini-series (as there was a twist with the screen version of Silence of the Lambs that helped it remain "fresh" as the end neared).
Even though this is a low budget b-movie,it still is one of the best thrillers I have ever seen.And it absolutely lives up to it's name "intensity".It's about a psycho serial killer,played by John C.
The movie is completely breath-taking and I didn't relax for one minute when I watched it on tv.It is a mini series in two parts and therefor quit long.Almost 4 hours I think and that is a long time with intensity.I recommend this movie to everyone that likes a good thriller and I guarantee that after watching the first 5 minutes you have to watch the whole movie.Intensity is really one of the most terrifying movies you will ever see..
This is one of the most scary films I have ever seen, the killer Vess is great in this film and played brilliantly, the heroine Chyna is also greatly played and believable.
Chyna Shepard is an insecure woman who when her friend gets murdered by a killer (Vess) decides it is her job to rescue on of his captives, a little girl called Ariel.
After this film I have bought 2 Dean Koontz books and hope to read more.....
If you can suspend your disbelief at the unreal experiences and miraculously close escapes and repeatedly coincidental circumstances, you cannot relax because this film takes you on a most intense ride that leaves you with knuckles bruised from gripping the edge of your seat.
It's why this movie is a MUST SEE if you are able to find a copy of it anywhere while it's sneaky, absurdly violent, badly acted, slasher rip off - Haute Tension - is a "must avoid at all costs".And I have to stress how absolutely incredible John McGinley was as the psycho dude.
However, I did wish the film followed the book a little more closely, keeping in the spectrum of Shepherd and Vess' point of view rather than trying to get more backdrop into the story.
When I read Dean Koontz's "Intensity", I thought it was the most exciting book I'd ever read.
The book explains (very well, I think) what drives her behavior, but if you see the movie before reading the book, you're left wondering if she's even crazier than her adversary.Flaws in the plot or screen writing aside, I thought the acting was superb, especially McGinley's chilling portrayal of the ultimate adrenaline junkie.
RE: INTENSITY - I know a lot of folks mentioned they would like to watch this movie again or tape it for future use.
They finally got one right!After some of his best novels were turned into some of the worst movies ever (Hideaway, Watchers), Dean Koontz finally seems to have taken the reigns and has put his foot down regarding the freedom Hollywood has been taking with his stories.
McGinley is amazingly evil in this TV movie which was adapted from Dean Koontz' novel.
McGinley doesn't look like the Edgler Vess I'd pictured, but he does a great job in this character.
Overall, this is a suspenseful, believable book and story, and the movie succeeds because of John C.McGinley, and Molly Parker.
McGinley is excellent as the killer, and is also quite believable; he doesn't overplay the part;and his mannerisms and expressions are always memorable; (I first saw him in "Wall Street", with Charlie Sheen,(1987) and he was quite funny.I do see that several reviews from other countries were not as favorable; since I am in America, you must realize that we are lucky when a talented, non-box-office actor is given a decent role; Hollywood usually miscasts the films, and uses someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger (yawn) Molly Parker's character, Chyna, has had a difficult past, which we glimpse through flashbacks.
These scenarios give insight as to why she chooses to pursue the killer, and her bond with the child victim, Ariel.I will not divulge the ending, except to say this movie is definitely worth buying the DVD, and also reading Dean Koontz' book..
I am an avid reader of Dean Koontz and Stephen King novels and Intensity did a pretty good job of following the book.
I promised her that when she got done reading the book that we would watch the movie.
This movie shows a really good example of an average person (Chyna Sheperd) overcoming her own fears with courage and a desire to make things right.
I've only see John McGinley in comedic roles like "Scrubs" so I was awed at the excellent acting job he did in this movie.
The heroine Chyna was a little annoying like shutting the door of the RV when she sneaked into it from the woods after the bad guy had left it open and leaving a nice trail of footprints right to the back room; checking to make sure the gun had bullets; throwing herself down a flight of stairs while chained to a chair (she could have killed herself and then what good would she do to poor little Ariel), etc.
To this day, I cannot watch a movie with John McGinley in it without seeing Edgler Foreman Vess.
a few worth mentioning) but when I saw 'Intensity' today I had to say hhhmm - that was a good movie.It starts out with a young woman named Chyna (played with great passion by Molly Parker) who is visiting friends on Thanksgiving weekend not realizing what's in store for her.
Whilst at her friend's house she witnessed Edgley Vass (played with conviction by John C McGinley) a cool, calm and collected killer break in, brutally murder her friend and her family and in the process hears him refer to how beautiful Ariel (Tori Paul) is whom he has kidnapped and kept prisoner in his cabin.
My only drawback is towards the conclusion of the film where Chyna gets to Ariel and with time running out for her, comforts Ariel at every opportunity it was as if there was no urgency getting free but with that said if the movie comes on TV do see it 'cos it's well worth the 3 plus hours to watch it..
It took me a year to find just the name of this movie, since my memory is quite good but very short,,I asked everyone I know if they watched it, taped it, or even heard of it.It was such a pleasure to find this site and actually see a write up on it.
I went so far as to buy the book by Dean Koontz since I couldn't find the movie, and although it was very good it didn't have the same seat gripping impact that the movie did.
Over the past couple of years, I've read Dean Koontz's books and have wanted to see the movies.
John MCGinley is superb as the head case murderer , he really makes the movie good.
When I first read this book I thought it would make a cool movie, and when I first heard that it was going to be a mini-series on TV, I was excited.
Unfortunately, I was only able to see the first show, so I missed out on the ending, and I've never had another chance to see it.I'm always excited when anything by Dean Koontz is made into a movie because he is such a good writer, and almost all of his stories would make really good movies.
If anyone out there is remotely interested in any of the movies that are taken from a Koontz book, go out and read the original novel.
I'm still looking forward to someone hopefully making Midnight, Lightning, or Dragon Tears into a movie, any one of those would be awesome.Back to what I'd like to say about Intensity specifically; the movie does a pretty good job of capturing the feel of the book, and it manages to nail the coolest moments in the movie.
I'd actually originally pictured David Keith as Vess, but McGinley fits the role perfectly; his best moment being when he delivers the line, "Now that, was INTENSE!!!!"  An excellent performance by him is reason enough to see this movie, if you ever do get the chance..
McGinley goes against type and gives the PERFORMANCE OF HIS LIFE as the demented Edgler Vess--indeed, it is his low-key approach that significantly boosts the scare factor of this movie, and makes this movie 'superior' instead of just 'mediocre' or 'good'.
The movie version is beautiful, I have not watched the entire series but I guess it might be perhaps too long and this is maybe why someone does not like it.
Chyna was never unconcerned about her own death, she simply felt that rescuing the girl would give her own life meaning and would somehow turn the horrors of her own childhood into something good.The acting of Molly Brown was superb.
the reason you didn't like it , my friend , was because you obviously only saw half of it .the mini-series was 4 hours long , and keeps the viewer on a veritable rollercoaster ride of INTENSITY .
I really enjoy Edgler Vess' psychotic and scary character, played by the awesome actor John C.
He really made the movie great with his physical power and presence, and the crazy look in his eyes at the most "intense" parts.
Molly Parker playing Chyna Shepherd did an excellent job as well, really convincing me she felt either sick, horribly mad, and even happy at their respected times in the movie.
I never want this movie to end whenever I watch it, no matter how many times it's playing on my VCR.
Played to the intense best, by John C.McGinley who I'll say by the way, has impressed me in character actor roles in the past, 'Set it off' being one!) And yes, as one reviwer said, it did give much hope by the end!
I haven't read Dean Koontz's novel so I wonder how it compares to this movie.
'Intensity' is one of those rare instances where the movie was way better than the book.
McGinley gives the performance of a lifetime as Edgler Foreman Vess--in fact, if this movie had gotten wider distribution, it probably would have ended McGinley's career by typecasting him as Vess for the rest of his life.Not for the weak-hearted--but if you ever get the chance, -watch this film-!
Since I have read the book the movie was spoiled a bit for me given that I knew what was going to happen all the way through.
If you haven't read the book, however, sit back and enjoy a very intense suspenseful thriller.
McGinley was excellent at playing the creepy and insane Vess while Molly Parker did a great job as the troubled heroine.
To make matters worse, the killer leaves his "patrol car" AND the body of the poor detective and his own Ford LTD in the middle of the road outside his house and follows Chyna and the girl inside - what happens when someone comes along and calls the cops?
This movie was mostly filmed at my great aunt's old house.
My great aunt had to move out of the house when they were filming the movie.
Sometimes when you read a book before seeing the movie the end result can be a disappointment...
This was a great movie that had all the characterisation of the book along with all the edge of your seat thrills and scares.
I read the book when I was about 15 and thought it would make a great movie and I was not wrong.
The actors played their parts wonderful and I was on the edge of my seat.I love Dean Koontz work and I remember in the movie that the crazy man was always fooling the girl.
Maybe it was due to the shock of seeing happy-go-lucky John McGinley playing such a happy-go-lucky maniacal psycho-killer that did it, I don't know, but if I could I'd give this film three-thumbs up!.
I feel like I should start by saying, even though this movie is hardly heard of, and even though the budget was smaller than my monthly paycheck from Dairy Queen, and even though the actors chosen to play the roles are mostly no-name actors, 'Intensity' is still pretty damned good.
Chyna, (there's that name again) spends a little too much time remembering painful moments from her past and telling Ariel how she isn't alone and other things like that.
lots of talented people and even animals, and through it all a masterful portrayal of Mcginley's character.As the title says, the intensity builds, and just when you think its solved, it gets better.If you've never seen it, you should find it and I'd even add it to my collection when I find it again...
If I asked you guys, what movie is about a girl going to a remote home of a friend to visit, and a killer comes in, kills all the family, doesn't find her hiding under the bed.
This 3-hour TV movie is absolutely sensational, with amazing performances by Molly Parker as the girl and John C.
I got it from a cable broadcast, and the copy was very good, and if you liked "Haute Tension", which most of us did, then you will absolutely love this television version of "Intensity".
I think it's the realism of this movie that makes it so great and it's well drawn characters.
Now Haute tension seems so very inferior compared to Intensity.I'm really confused by how such a great movie like Intensity has managed to stay so under the radar of the horror community.As of now there's no DVD release for this one.
This is one of those movies that exercise your nerves, emotions and most importantly your anger towards psychos like the (Vess) character.
Watching this movie many times could actually make you want to become a bounty hunter and go out there in the world looking for scummy individuals like (Vess) and putting them away for good.
Once in the home however the nightmare really starts as the mind-games between the two main characters begin.This is roughly, roughly, roughly the idea in the movie as (Chyna) tries to save (Ariel) trying to overcome (Vess) and his extremely evil guard-dogs.What I didn't like in the movie was the whole sentimental part with the white wolves.
But anyway...Too many useless characters like the old lady on the highway who gets whacked by (Vess) just when you thought she would help (Chyna).
This movie makes the same mistake that other thrillers make: it builds up too much tension and releases very little towards the end.
I'm not a big Dean Koontz fan, but I really liked this book and was looking forward to seeing the movie but the movie did not do it justice!
Some people didn't like the plot holes that enabled Chyna (ably played by Molly Parker) to escape from Edgler's clutches but she was on a determined mission to save the little girl and had the foresight in the end to outwit Edgler.
The book Intensity was a gripping Koontz novel and the movie manages to capture the pathos of Chyna and her struggle against the evil serial killer Edgler.
Molly Parker's performance as Chyna is very good but John McGinley is excellent as the very dangerous and cunning killer.
The girl who plays Ariel is very cute and manages to be endearing in spite of having almost no lines at all.After trying to track Edgler for so long, the cop is killed off immediately upon meeting his prey, which I found as frustrating in the book as it is in the movie.
Apart from this - although you might not think so - it was actually quite an enjoyable movie with good acting, chilling scenes, reasonable suspense in an interesting plot and reasonable dialogue.
I read the book Intensity a long time ago and had no idea that there was a TV movie made out of it.
The movie makes a very poor attempt at trying to get you to like the characters that you know are going to die in about 5 minutes, and to try and foreshadow, but fails at it miserably.
The big scene were Vess kills the family that took like a hundred pages in the book is over in about five minutes, and there is no intensity at all.
Chyna is also a piece of work, like everyone else has stated she makes some of the most stupid mistakes that anyone has ever made in a movie, ever.