Kiss or Kill MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1/2 Content: -3

Nick (Francis O'Connor) is an orphan whose painful past has taught her to hate most men. Al (Matt Day) is a juvenile delinquent who has grown into a full-fledged criminal. Together, they run a scam in which Nick seduces business travelers into their hotel rooms and drugs them. Then Al enters and they steal the businessmen's belongings. Their scheme goes awry when one of the victims dies. Nick and Al immediately hit the road to escape the authorities, running their scam in every little town they pass through. But there's one disturbing twist. The victims are now ending up dead, and not just overdosed on drugs. Their throats are being slit. Nick can't figure out if she's doing it during her recently acquired sleepwalking sessions or if Al is doing it behind her back. Both prospects horrify her. It's touch-and-go as Nick and Al run from the authorities and wonder if they ought to be running from each other. Unfortunately, this intriguing concept can't save the movie. Poor craftsmanship, from the cinematography to the acting, will make this Australian film a big loser at the box-office.

It was hard-pressed to find something positive about this film. The cops aren't corrupt, and that's always a good thing. But on the other hand, the two heroes are homicidal criminals. Another character, a former Australian football star, is a child molester, and small town folk are made out to look like mental cases. In addition, over one hundred f-words and twenty two crude words pollute the dialogue. The Lord's name is taken in vain ten times. The opening scene features a little girl who watches the violent and graphic burning death of her mother. Later scenes include other violence such as gun threats and car crashes. The sexually related material is no less offensive as a video tape features explicit sex, and sex is implied several times between Nick and Al, once with female breast nudity. With all these offensive elements, is it necessary to even mention that the movie features constant cigarette smoking? KISS OR KILL? This one definitely doesn't deserve a kiss.

Preview Reviewer: Jason Shepherd
Distributor: October Films, 65 Bleeker St., New York, NY 10012