If so, you'll like "Traces of Red", a murder mystery in which Belushi plays a cop hot on the trail of a serial killer in Palm Beach, FL. Though the flick misses the sweaty Florida noir atmospherics of "Palmetto" and "Gold Coast" and dishes up a convoluted, not-to-be-taken-seriously plot, it does feature the same old likeable tough guy Belushi in his slimmer days. Good stuff for Belushi fans. Marginal, mediocre escapist stuff for everyone else. (C)
15 Reviews
OK diversion.
gridoon9 April 2001
Overheated but good-looking and fairly entertaining murder mystery that will probably please most whodunit fans, despite (or, for some viewers, perhaps BECAUSE of) its overly convoluted plot, which may even demand a second viewing to get completely straightened out in one's head. James Belushi gets to show some ambiguity that's rare for him, but Lorraine Bracco's femme fatale is a barely sexy disappointment. (**)
The first 5 minutes and the last 10 minutes are good; the rest of this movie fizzles more than sizzles
gridoon202427 April 2020
"Traces Of Red" has a striking opening sequence, and a well-done double-twist at the end; the rest of the movie, though, is flat - almost like a TV movie (especially when compared to, say, the same year's "Basic Instinct", which I saw again yesterday - the gap between the two films is enormous). The biggest liability is Lorraine Bracco's vacuous, unconvincing femme fatale; James Belushi is equally miscast as the town stud, though he has some good moments near the end. The best things about the movie are the lush, jazzy music score, and some nice panoramic views of Palm Beach. ** out of 4.
I'd watch it again
lellison31 December 2003
Nobody expects this to be a blockbuster, but it IS worth a watch for Belushi fans, and for those who like a very challenging plot. The budget for this film may not have been large, but it does present some grand, upscale homes and mansions, and beautiful south Florida and Keys scenery.
Jim has these cop/detective roles nailed, both as "good guy" and "bad guy". Here, he floats back and forth throughout the entire film.
Unbelievable, twisted, convoluted plot? Absolutely, but this is intended to be entertaining fiction. Watch it from the beginning, give it 15 minutes, and you may well be compelled to finish it.
Jim has these cop/detective roles nailed, both as "good guy" and "bad guy". Here, he floats back and forth throughout the entire film.
Unbelievable, twisted, convoluted plot? Absolutely, but this is intended to be entertaining fiction. Watch it from the beginning, give it 15 minutes, and you may well be compelled to finish it.
horribly pretentious
m_madhu23 August 2002
a movie that attempts to be far smarter than its makers are capable of producing. the movie twists and turns through miriad plot "surprises" at a desperate attempt to kep the audience guessing, offcourse puncturing the "plot" with steamy scenes they thought would help it along.
james belushi is involved in this pseudo-intellectual attempt and just sleep walks through the movie. the same applies for the other "actors". the plot is quite silly and tacky. whih in itelf is not such a crime, but towards the end, the tremendous plot-twists get very tiresome and boring.
however, the movie does manage to generate some interest in the middle. in all worth a lazy watch on a really boring day, but don't fret if you miss this one.
a rather lame 4!
james belushi is involved in this pseudo-intellectual attempt and just sleep walks through the movie. the same applies for the other "actors". the plot is quite silly and tacky. whih in itelf is not such a crime, but towards the end, the tremendous plot-twists get very tiresome and boring.
however, the movie does manage to generate some interest in the middle. in all worth a lazy watch on a really boring day, but don't fret if you miss this one.
a rather lame 4!
Purported erotic thriller will leave you limp
vandeman-scott23 May 2023
Oh my, where to start. I suspected TRACES OF RED wouldn't be a masterpiece before I ever pressed play. My expectations were more than exceeded. The obviously cheap production values and jejune script quickly provided ample confirmation that this effort was even worse than second rate. From the less-than-stellar cinematography shot in a nearly square aspect ratio*, to the pedestrian script featuring uninspired dialog and a completely nonsensical ending, the whole affair is more reminiscent of an episode of TV's SILK STALKINGS than a theatrical film.
While the cast features some big-name and soon-to-be-big-name talent -- actors that are usually competent at worst -- none of them ever quite connect with the material. Throughout, the entire cast appears to be bored, and it's hard to blame them. They have little good with which to work.
James Belushi is stuck on one note. His plentiful, sudden displays of rage might have worked with a passable script, but here they seem forced and lack conviction. Unfortunately, while he does well at being loud, he can't seem to muster the energy to do more.
Lorraine Bracco plays a basic homewrecking nymphomaniac tramp, not very convincingly, while Tony Goldwyn's main function is to look good in tight shirts and make dumb decisions. And the material leaves more than just the actors wanting.
TRACES OF RED fails to make use of picturesque Palm Beach, an asset that could have overcome some of the film's visual blandness. It's a little weird that the filmmakers chose to film in Fort Lauderdale when the Palm Beaches, where the action purportedly takes place, are just over 40 miles away. One establishing shot of Mar a Lago doesn't come anywhere close to capturing the unique flavor of the area, especially for viewers in South Florida. Given the approach, one wonders why they didn't just film in California. It wouldn't have made a difference.
As an erotic thriller, TRACES OF RED fails to generate any heat. Viewers willing to overlook loose logic in exchange for some sexy feels are in for a disappointment. Inartful cinematography, uncreative lighting, and dispassionate performances result in a misfire that's sure to leave watchers limp.
Most unforgivable among the movie's many flaws, however, is an ending that makes absolutely zero sense. Reversals are a time-honored tradition in suspense movies, but they have to be fair and supported. Cheating the audience to achieve a "surprise" ending is nothing more than a cheese off. The irreconcilable logical conflict the ending presents spoils the movie more than anything that could be written here, but viewers should still have the chance to see for themselves.
I wouldn't recommend they do.
* Edit -- IMDb indicates TRACES OF RED was filmed at an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The Amazon Prime version may have been scanned for television and appears to have an aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
While the cast features some big-name and soon-to-be-big-name talent -- actors that are usually competent at worst -- none of them ever quite connect with the material. Throughout, the entire cast appears to be bored, and it's hard to blame them. They have little good with which to work.
James Belushi is stuck on one note. His plentiful, sudden displays of rage might have worked with a passable script, but here they seem forced and lack conviction. Unfortunately, while he does well at being loud, he can't seem to muster the energy to do more.
Lorraine Bracco plays a basic homewrecking nymphomaniac tramp, not very convincingly, while Tony Goldwyn's main function is to look good in tight shirts and make dumb decisions. And the material leaves more than just the actors wanting.
TRACES OF RED fails to make use of picturesque Palm Beach, an asset that could have overcome some of the film's visual blandness. It's a little weird that the filmmakers chose to film in Fort Lauderdale when the Palm Beaches, where the action purportedly takes place, are just over 40 miles away. One establishing shot of Mar a Lago doesn't come anywhere close to capturing the unique flavor of the area, especially for viewers in South Florida. Given the approach, one wonders why they didn't just film in California. It wouldn't have made a difference.
As an erotic thriller, TRACES OF RED fails to generate any heat. Viewers willing to overlook loose logic in exchange for some sexy feels are in for a disappointment. Inartful cinematography, uncreative lighting, and dispassionate performances result in a misfire that's sure to leave watchers limp.
Most unforgivable among the movie's many flaws, however, is an ending that makes absolutely zero sense. Reversals are a time-honored tradition in suspense movies, but they have to be fair and supported. Cheating the audience to achieve a "surprise" ending is nothing more than a cheese off. The irreconcilable logical conflict the ending presents spoils the movie more than anything that could be written here, but viewers should still have the chance to see for themselves.
I wouldn't recommend they do.
* Edit -- IMDb indicates TRACES OF RED was filmed at an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The Amazon Prime version may have been scanned for television and appears to have an aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
Some movies are worse than others. This is one of those terrible movies. Terrible from the very start....
imseeg18 July 2022
The bad: what isnt terrible about this picture? The actors are phoning their part in. The photography, editing, soundtrack ALL look and sound cheap.
Lots of way below mediocre supporting actors further pull down this movie to an almost B-movie level.
And to finalize my complaints, the story is a disaster. Lasts too long as well.
Let us forget this was ever made. For all the Jim Belushi fans out there, you better pass this one by...there are many other better Belushi movies out there...
Lots of way below mediocre supporting actors further pull down this movie to an almost B-movie level.
And to finalize my complaints, the story is a disaster. Lasts too long as well.
Let us forget this was ever made. For all the Jim Belushi fans out there, you better pass this one by...there are many other better Belushi movies out there...
Following
kosmasp10 April 2023
No pun intended - it is never good when something happens to a person you met casually ... well by casually you know what I mean. Generally speaking, you would never want to be in connection with a crime. The characters here are well written and the twists and turns are very nicely laid out. I don't think you can guess your way all the way to the end - that said, it all depends on how many thrillers you have seen in your life.
The actors that are being assembled here are quite nice. I like it when there is effort in the casting. Belushi always delivers and then you have the others playing to him (no pun intended). There is sizzling action and some nudity - I don't think you mind.
The actors that are being assembled here are quite nice. I like it when there is effort in the casting. Belushi always delivers and then you have the others playing to him (no pun intended). There is sizzling action and some nudity - I don't think you mind.
Suspense and entertainment.
jesper-110 July 2001
Being that this movie has a lot of fine entertainment qualities I think it should some more credit than it has been given on imdb.
It's your basic 'who done it?' thriller with sex and murder but it keeps you guessing right to the end. I like these kinds of movies and I certainly think this one meets the standard.
To me it was worth watching more than once so I'll give it an 8 on imdb.
It's your basic 'who done it?' thriller with sex and murder but it keeps you guessing right to the end. I like these kinds of movies and I certainly think this one meets the standard.
To me it was worth watching more than once so I'll give it an 8 on imdb.
How can it have such a pathetic score when it actually deserves better?
bellino-angelo20141 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I heard about TRACES OF RED from quite some time because it's one of Tony Goldwyn's most famous movies and since last summer I assaulted his filmography I finally reached this. My expectations were very low because of its score of 5,1 and only 14 reviews with mostly negative score. But I was blown away for how much it didn't looked that bad at all.
In the beginning Detective Jack Dobson (Jim Belushi) is seen shot in the back and from then on, the movie goes on flashbacks of what happened and what led him to his death. Jack used to receive threatening letters, and along with his partner Steve Frayn (Goldwyn) they realize that they are sent by a mob boss of whom Jack has to testify in court. Soon after various women are found dead with lipstick marks left by the killer and Ellen Schofield (Lorraine Bracco) could be involved. But when Jack exits a restaurant with a woman that soon after is found dead Jack is suspected of being the killer. After various investigations and some shootings involving Steve's wife the real killer is found, and it's Michael (Jack's brother) while Jack faked his own death for giving some security to Michael, and after the big shocking twist Michael shoots himself and there is the funeral.
The acting was great by the leads (Belushi, Bracco, Goldwyn and William Russ as the villain) and the concept was original and coincidentally it's a bit similar in some ways to that of KISS THE GIRLS with again Goldwyn in a supporting role. But the big shocking twist at the end... that was certainly unexpected! Michael Dobson looked so innocent that you couldn't believe at first that he was behind those murders. And Jack's death looked so real that you thought he was over but not. He returned for making his brother kill himself. Twisted uh?
Don't trust the reviews for this one because it has all the elements of a great thriller and if you are thriller fans you'd end up loving it. A minor warning would be that there are some steamy scenes but if you are adults like me (24 at the moment) it's no biggie.
In the beginning Detective Jack Dobson (Jim Belushi) is seen shot in the back and from then on, the movie goes on flashbacks of what happened and what led him to his death. Jack used to receive threatening letters, and along with his partner Steve Frayn (Goldwyn) they realize that they are sent by a mob boss of whom Jack has to testify in court. Soon after various women are found dead with lipstick marks left by the killer and Ellen Schofield (Lorraine Bracco) could be involved. But when Jack exits a restaurant with a woman that soon after is found dead Jack is suspected of being the killer. After various investigations and some shootings involving Steve's wife the real killer is found, and it's Michael (Jack's brother) while Jack faked his own death for giving some security to Michael, and after the big shocking twist Michael shoots himself and there is the funeral.
The acting was great by the leads (Belushi, Bracco, Goldwyn and William Russ as the villain) and the concept was original and coincidentally it's a bit similar in some ways to that of KISS THE GIRLS with again Goldwyn in a supporting role. But the big shocking twist at the end... that was certainly unexpected! Michael Dobson looked so innocent that you couldn't believe at first that he was behind those murders. And Jack's death looked so real that you thought he was over but not. He returned for making his brother kill himself. Twisted uh?
Don't trust the reviews for this one because it has all the elements of a great thriller and if you are thriller fans you'd end up loving it. A minor warning would be that there are some steamy scenes but if you are adults like me (24 at the moment) it's no biggie.
A pretty inept erotic thriller, who's very description could be one after by Trading Standards
bob the moo27 March 2004
When homicide cop Jack Dobson starts getting threatening letters and has his car trashed, he and his partner assume that it is the work of a mobster who Jack is testifying against. However when the writer of the letters starts killing friends and lovers of his, Jack starts to investigate with the killer's lipstick and a defective typewriter as his only clues.
Opening with a shot of his own dead body, we are taken through this film by the narration of Jack himself, seemingly in an attempt to make it more gritty and typical of the genre. The plot spins wildly out of control - but not due to an abundance of ideas so much as just poor writing and poor delivery of the finished product. The connections between the various dots is not very important as the vast majority of the strands exist solely to act as red herrings - although how you could ever hope to guess the ridiculous twists that come at the end of this film is beyond me - the makers needed have bothered trying to trick us!
The plot never manages to thrill at any point, which could be considered a problem in a thriller. The lack of clarity in any of the threads (never mind their composite) means that you never really get involved enough to be gripping or indeed even care who the killer is or what their motivation might be. Having established that this erotic thriller has no thrills, then we are left with only the promise of the erotic! Of course, as you might imagine, this film doesn't deliver that either. Oh, it has nudity and some quick scenes of sexual material but it is just lazily stuck in there to widen the market appeal of this film - certainly if you came here looking for, ahem, whacking material, then you will be very disappointed.
The cast is OK in regards names, but don't really do anything in regards helping the film be better. Belushi is as average as ever; I suppose he does try to bring intense emotions out of his character here, but generally he is doing his usual stuff. Goldwynn is OK but his main contribution here is another recognisable face. Bracco tries hard but she is no Sharon Stone! She doesn't suit her hairstyle, never mind her character. She tries but she comes off silly - and her body double does her no favours during the nude scenes - lying there as flaccid as a deflated balloon!
Overall this film is just poor. In terms of thrills it is dull and so incoherent and badly structured as to render any excitement dead. If you're looking for erotic thrills then this film will disappoint you as well. The only moment of interest for me was the fact that the makers clearly took bets to see how absurd a twist they could get away with.
Opening with a shot of his own dead body, we are taken through this film by the narration of Jack himself, seemingly in an attempt to make it more gritty and typical of the genre. The plot spins wildly out of control - but not due to an abundance of ideas so much as just poor writing and poor delivery of the finished product. The connections between the various dots is not very important as the vast majority of the strands exist solely to act as red herrings - although how you could ever hope to guess the ridiculous twists that come at the end of this film is beyond me - the makers needed have bothered trying to trick us!
The plot never manages to thrill at any point, which could be considered a problem in a thriller. The lack of clarity in any of the threads (never mind their composite) means that you never really get involved enough to be gripping or indeed even care who the killer is or what their motivation might be. Having established that this erotic thriller has no thrills, then we are left with only the promise of the erotic! Of course, as you might imagine, this film doesn't deliver that either. Oh, it has nudity and some quick scenes of sexual material but it is just lazily stuck in there to widen the market appeal of this film - certainly if you came here looking for, ahem, whacking material, then you will be very disappointed.
The cast is OK in regards names, but don't really do anything in regards helping the film be better. Belushi is as average as ever; I suppose he does try to bring intense emotions out of his character here, but generally he is doing his usual stuff. Goldwynn is OK but his main contribution here is another recognisable face. Bracco tries hard but she is no Sharon Stone! She doesn't suit her hairstyle, never mind her character. She tries but she comes off silly - and her body double does her no favours during the nude scenes - lying there as flaccid as a deflated balloon!
Overall this film is just poor. In terms of thrills it is dull and so incoherent and badly structured as to render any excitement dead. If you're looking for erotic thrills then this film will disappoint you as well. The only moment of interest for me was the fact that the makers clearly took bets to see how absurd a twist they could get away with.
Traces of Red
Smalling-28 November 1999
A homicide detective in Palm Springs tracks down a serial killer whose victims are all somewhat linked to him.
Crushingly boring, inextricably muddled and casually performed attempt at film noir, in which the killed victim tells the story, a la "Sunset Boulevard". The characters are so dull and dislikable, that by the time the final tricky twist comes on display you scarcely care.
Crushingly boring, inextricably muddled and casually performed attempt at film noir, in which the killed victim tells the story, a la "Sunset Boulevard". The characters are so dull and dislikable, that by the time the final tricky twist comes on display you scarcely care.
Traces of Red (1992) thriller
Film_Lover_4ever25 March 2021
Excellent erotic thriller. Excellent 90s thriller with a super cast. Thriller with sex and murder but it keeps you guessing right to the end. I like these kinds of movies and I certainly think this one meets the standard. 10/10
I'd watch it again. Traces of Red 🔴🔴 💻🖨
I'd watch it again. Traces of Red 🔴🔴 💻🖨
Murder in Paradise
sol12182 August 2004
Warning: Spoilers
****SPOILERS**** "Traces of Red" would have been a decent modern Film-Noir thriller if it only ended like it started but the makers of the movie had to add on some ten minutes to the story and that just about destroyed it. Trying to be cute and twist and fool the audience with an off-the-wall ending made it look both foolish and unconvincing and it even showed on the faces of the actors in the film;as they tried to keep a straight face and not crack up from laughing.The movie had all the ingredients for a good police whodunit: a good cast beautiful women and locations and even a part in the story that dates back some thirty years. This dark secret has something to do with the murders and is linked to the detective investigating the killings but that really ridicules ending sunk the film. Det. Jack Dobson, James Belushi,is investigating a number of murders of beautiful young and rich widows, aren't they all, in rich and socially prominent Palm Beach Florida.
The killer purposely leaves clues that somehow tie all the killings to Det. Dobson. The killer sends him letters after each murder with a kiss mark on them that has the same kind of lipstick that the murdered women had smeared on their lips after they were killed. The letters are typed with an imperfection of the letters D & L and it's obvious that the killer wants the police or Det. Dobson to know this.
As the Palm Beach Police Department try to find out who the killer is something comes up out of the blue about the detective on the case Det. Dobson which has him taken off the case. It turns out that this person Ross Worth knew one of the murdered women in Key West when she worked at a nightclub there. The woman Morgan Cassidy, Michelle Joyner, just happened to be Det. Dobson girlfriend!Now get this! Ross Worth's mother Gloria Worth was arrested and put away for some twenty years for molesting Det. Dobson when he was six years old when she was his first grade teacher;it was Dobson's testimony that put her away. Mrs. Worth died a week before the killing in Palm Beach started and the police there think that it's her son Ross who's doing them to get revenge for his mother. It's also found out that all the women killed were involved with Det. Dobson. Taken off the case because of his possible connection to the murders Det. Dobson is replaced by his partner Det. Frayn, Tony Goldwyn, who flies to Key West to check out Ross Worth only to find out that he died of AIDS the year before. Det. Frayn does find one of Det. Dobson's lady friends another beautiful rich and widowed Palm Beach socialite Ellen Schofield, Lorrain Bracco. Lorrain has a one-night-stand with Det. Frayn, who's married, and later blackmails him by calling his wife Beth, Faye Grant, and leaving a massage on the phone recorder. Det. Dobson get very upset with his partner Det. Frayn for having an affair with his girlfriend Ellen and Frayn's wife leaves him with her young daughter. When Det. Frayn goes to see Ellen at her home on the beach he finds her murdered.
The film was really starting to pick up and really become interesting even up to the final minute but then the "Surprise Ending" came in and just deep sixth the entire movie. I don't know why the movie-makers had to put in that moronic ending. It may have been a way to make the star of the movie James Belushi not look so bad. You already saw at the very beginning of the film that he was killed and we were getting all this, the story, from him from the grave in flashback. But that "ending" was just too much and it took everything out of what was up until then a fairly good crime/suspense film.
The killer purposely leaves clues that somehow tie all the killings to Det. Dobson. The killer sends him letters after each murder with a kiss mark on them that has the same kind of lipstick that the murdered women had smeared on their lips after they were killed. The letters are typed with an imperfection of the letters D & L and it's obvious that the killer wants the police or Det. Dobson to know this.
As the Palm Beach Police Department try to find out who the killer is something comes up out of the blue about the detective on the case Det. Dobson which has him taken off the case. It turns out that this person Ross Worth knew one of the murdered women in Key West when she worked at a nightclub there. The woman Morgan Cassidy, Michelle Joyner, just happened to be Det. Dobson girlfriend!Now get this! Ross Worth's mother Gloria Worth was arrested and put away for some twenty years for molesting Det. Dobson when he was six years old when she was his first grade teacher;it was Dobson's testimony that put her away. Mrs. Worth died a week before the killing in Palm Beach started and the police there think that it's her son Ross who's doing them to get revenge for his mother. It's also found out that all the women killed were involved with Det. Dobson. Taken off the case because of his possible connection to the murders Det. Dobson is replaced by his partner Det. Frayn, Tony Goldwyn, who flies to Key West to check out Ross Worth only to find out that he died of AIDS the year before. Det. Frayn does find one of Det. Dobson's lady friends another beautiful rich and widowed Palm Beach socialite Ellen Schofield, Lorrain Bracco. Lorrain has a one-night-stand with Det. Frayn, who's married, and later blackmails him by calling his wife Beth, Faye Grant, and leaving a massage on the phone recorder. Det. Dobson get very upset with his partner Det. Frayn for having an affair with his girlfriend Ellen and Frayn's wife leaves him with her young daughter. When Det. Frayn goes to see Ellen at her home on the beach he finds her murdered.
The film was really starting to pick up and really become interesting even up to the final minute but then the "Surprise Ending" came in and just deep sixth the entire movie. I don't know why the movie-makers had to put in that moronic ending. It may have been a way to make the star of the movie James Belushi not look so bad. You already saw at the very beginning of the film that he was killed and we were getting all this, the story, from him from the grave in flashback. But that "ending" was just too much and it took everything out of what was up until then a fairly good crime/suspense film.
It becomes campy
lor_7 August 2023
My review was written in October 1992 after watching the movie at the Gramercy theater in Manhattan.
Unintentional laughs and goofy plot twists make "Traces of Red", a dramatic failure but an entertaining exercise in camp. In the currently hot erotic thriller genre, it should be a strong video title, but is miscast as far as the theatrical marketplace is concerned.
James Belushi brings his usual man of the people persona to a role that should have been a bit more uppercrust: a cop in Palm Beach, Florida, whose brother (William Russ) is running for Senate. Belushi is assigned to a murder case, and before long all of the principal characters (himself and brother included) are key suspects in the serial slayings of prostitutes and B girls.
With a nod to genre films like "Body Heat", "Traces of Red" initially holds one's interest in a whodunit mode. Unfortunately, scripter Jim Piddock threw out all concern for character consistency in his desire to keep the pot boiling, so the film becomes terminally silly.
Originally titled "Beyond Suspicion", pic includes so many traces of red herrings in its attempt to make every Palm Beach denizen as suspect, one fears that Ted Kennedy will eventually be dragged in as the killer. In particular, Lorraine Bracco, playing her femme fatale as a wannabe Melanie Griffith (right down to the voice), does many things for no reasons other than to make the audience wonder about her.
A skeleton in the family closet proves to be key to unravelling a mystery that includes one satisfying, though phony, twist at the very end. To throw film buffs off the track, Belushi narrates the film as a corpse, a successfully misleading homage to BIlly Wilder's "Sunset Blvd." format.
Belushi has the edge to create a film noir antihero but hardly the sex appeal to follow in Michael Dougas' or William Hurt's genre footsteps. As is sidekick and advisor, Tony Goldwyn suffer from the lack of script logic, Tech credits are okay but on the cheap side, missing the shadow play and lighting stylization a true film noir requires.
Unintentional laughs and goofy plot twists make "Traces of Red", a dramatic failure but an entertaining exercise in camp. In the currently hot erotic thriller genre, it should be a strong video title, but is miscast as far as the theatrical marketplace is concerned.
James Belushi brings his usual man of the people persona to a role that should have been a bit more uppercrust: a cop in Palm Beach, Florida, whose brother (William Russ) is running for Senate. Belushi is assigned to a murder case, and before long all of the principal characters (himself and brother included) are key suspects in the serial slayings of prostitutes and B girls.
With a nod to genre films like "Body Heat", "Traces of Red" initially holds one's interest in a whodunit mode. Unfortunately, scripter Jim Piddock threw out all concern for character consistency in his desire to keep the pot boiling, so the film becomes terminally silly.
Originally titled "Beyond Suspicion", pic includes so many traces of red herrings in its attempt to make every Palm Beach denizen as suspect, one fears that Ted Kennedy will eventually be dragged in as the killer. In particular, Lorraine Bracco, playing her femme fatale as a wannabe Melanie Griffith (right down to the voice), does many things for no reasons other than to make the audience wonder about her.
A skeleton in the family closet proves to be key to unravelling a mystery that includes one satisfying, though phony, twist at the very end. To throw film buffs off the track, Belushi narrates the film as a corpse, a successfully misleading homage to BIlly Wilder's "Sunset Blvd." format.
Belushi has the edge to create a film noir antihero but hardly the sex appeal to follow in Michael Dougas' or William Hurt's genre footsteps. As is sidekick and advisor, Tony Goldwyn suffer from the lack of script logic, Tech credits are okay but on the cheap side, missing the shadow play and lighting stylization a true film noir requires.
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