Chiller (1985) dir. Wes Craven, Frozen Man Productions/J.D. Feigelson Productions/Polar Films
Wes Craven, having created the ultimate boogeyman with Freddy Kruger, was back in a field he knew all too well-Made for TV movies.
Ten years ago Miles Creighton (Michael Beck) was dying and there was nothing medical science at the time could do. His parents opted for a risky experiment, namely cryogenics. Miles was put into cold storage until such time a cure could be found.
One surgery was developed, but the reason Miles is being thawed out is a power failure caused his pod to melt. The surgery is a success and Miles lives! His mother, Marion (Beatrice Straight) is overjoyed but something is wrong. Miles is colder, literally and figuratively. He takes over his father's companies and starts cutting anything that doesn't make money.
A series of deaths plague the city. The injured Father Penny (Paul Sorvino) tells Marion in the hospital that Miles is the killer. Also his soul died in the freezing chamber but his body still lives. Marion is torn. Does she lock her son away or does she try to save her step-daughter Stacey (Jill Schoelen)?
This has been called Craven's worst picture and I'm inclined to agree. Maybe it was the censors at CBS, maybe Craven was just trying to churn out the next film but this would be a fine thirty minute episode of the Twilight Zone but stretched out? Almost unbearable.
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