In "Fatal Bond," there is one of the most unsavory creatures imaginable in the character of Joe Martinez. It was a stretch to believe that the hairstylist Leonie Stevens would continue to stay with him after she suspected him of two brutal murders.
The filmmakers devised an interesting twist at the end in the attempt to shine a more positive light on Joe, based on what was apparently a true story. The wild card in the equation was the minister, Reverend Anthony Boon. Boon's messianic character holds the key to understanding the death of his daughter Bree.
While the film was never convincing as a love story, it worked as a compelling road show and mystery with good suspense as the walls were closing in on Joe Martinez. The efficient Detective Chenko was tracking both Boon and Martinez, which led to a spectacular climactic scene that virtually took the film into the area of the horror genre.
One positive was the performance of Linda Blair as Leonie. The actress did her best to serve the script in evoking a character who was virtually addicted to an admittedly self-destructive hustler. There was also some colorful seaside location footage in South Australia.
It was never plausible that the relationship of Joe and Leonie would produce seven babies. But, as indicated in the closing credits, that was apparently the outcome of the true story after Joe had paid his debt to society. Which one of the following is the better title: "Fatal Bond"? Or, "Joe and Leonie": A Love Story"?
The filmmakers devised an interesting twist at the end in the attempt to shine a more positive light on Joe, based on what was apparently a true story. The wild card in the equation was the minister, Reverend Anthony Boon. Boon's messianic character holds the key to understanding the death of his daughter Bree.
While the film was never convincing as a love story, it worked as a compelling road show and mystery with good suspense as the walls were closing in on Joe Martinez. The efficient Detective Chenko was tracking both Boon and Martinez, which led to a spectacular climactic scene that virtually took the film into the area of the horror genre.
One positive was the performance of Linda Blair as Leonie. The actress did her best to serve the script in evoking a character who was virtually addicted to an admittedly self-destructive hustler. There was also some colorful seaside location footage in South Australia.
It was never plausible that the relationship of Joe and Leonie would produce seven babies. But, as indicated in the closing credits, that was apparently the outcome of the true story after Joe had paid his debt to society. Which one of the following is the better title: "Fatal Bond"? Or, "Joe and Leonie": A Love Story"?