''Traces of Red'' is a 1992

neo noir Neo-noir is a revival of film noir, a genre that had originally flourished during the post-World War II era in the United Statesroughly from 1940 to 1960. The French term, ''film noir'', translates literally to English as "black film", indicating s ...

erotic thriller The erotic thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or erotic fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain in ...

film, directed by

Andy Wolk Andy Wolk is an American television and theatre director. His television credits include '' Tales of the Crypt'', ''The Sopranos'', '' Arli$$'', ''The Practice'', ''The Division'', ''Medium'', ''Ugly Betty'', and ''Criminal Minds'', as well as a ...

and starring

James Belushi James Adam Belushi (; born June 15, 1954) is an American actor. He is best known for the role of Jim on the sitcom ''According to Jim'' (2001–2009). His other television roles include ''Saturday Night Live'' (1983–1985), '' Total Security'' ...

Lorraine Bracco Lorraine Bracco (born October 2, 1954) is an American actress. Known for her distinct husky voice and Brooklyn accent, she has been nominated for an Academy Award, four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Award ...

and

Tony Goldwyn Anthony Howard Goldwyn (born May 20, 1960) is an American actor, singer, producer, director, and political activist. He made his debut appearing as Darren in the slasher film '' Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives'' (1986), and had his breakthr ...

. The film was released theatrically by

The Samuel Goldwyn Company The Samuel Goldwyn Company was an American independent film company founded by Samuel Goldwyn Jr., the son of the famous Hollywood mogul, Samuel Goldwyn, in 1978. Background The company originally distributed and acquired art-house films from ...

on November 13, 1992. After the limited theatrical release in the United States, the film became a surprise hit in the United States Home Video market; the film made 224.8% more revenue on home video than it did in theaters.GEORGE T. CHRONIS and LISA ROBINSON, "Hallmark Launches Its Own Home Video Label Forms Hallmark Home Entertainment division with Steven Beeks as president", '' Video Store Magazine'', January 1, 1995 Lorraine Bracco used body double for the nude scene. Her performance in the film earned her a

Razzie Award The Golden Raspberry Awards (also known as the Razzies and Razzie Awards) is a parody award show honoring the worst of cinematic under-achievements. Co-founded by UCLA film graduates and film industry veterans John J. B. Wilson and Mo Murphy, ...

nomination for Worst Actress.

Plot

The film begins with Jack Dobson, a homicide detective from Palm Beach, flat on his back with a bullet in his chest. It is then told in flashback form, leading up to the events that led him to this fate. Jack has been receiving threatening letters. He and his partner Steve Frayn conclude that the source must be a mob figure whom Jack is about to testify against in court. But another possibility is that someone could be causing trouble for Jack's brother, Michael, who is in an election campaign for public office. Women begin turning up dead with lipstick traces left by the killer. A woman Jack has begun seeing, Ellen Schofield, could be involved. But when Ellen sees Jack leave a restaurant with a woman who soon becomes a victim, suspicion is cast toward Jack himself as the killer. Jack eventually reveals that he was raped as a child by his former 1st grade teacher, Gloria Wurtz. While speaking with Michael, Steve learns that it was by his own mother who raped Jack. Steve decides to go forward with his own investigation but, in the process, winds up having sex with Ellen, much to his wife's (who he earlier celebrated his seventh wedding anniversary with) and Jack's (who now sees him as a traitor) dismay. After Ellen turns up dead, Jack decides to take Beth (Steve's wife) with him to a secluded getaway home, immediately following Steve confiding in Jack that he trusted him. After finding evidence that Jack is indeed the killer, Steve and Michael rush to the getaway home where Jack and Beth are. Jack is holding Beth and is seemingly about to strangle her when Steve yells at Jack to freeze. Jack pushes Beth aside and draws his gun, but is shot by Steve before he can get off a shot. Then, Jack (in narrative form) says "I guess you probably thought that I was some kind of hero when you first saw me laying there, at the beginning. Wrong. But the story wasn't over ...... not yet." Eventually, Michael is revealed to be the real killer. Jack's murder was faked, as he wanted to give Michael a false sense of security that he was dead, and responsible for the murdered women. Michael is set up to seemingly be alone with a woman in a hotel room. After he attempts to strangle the woman, Steve bursts into the room with his gun drawn, and tells Michael to freeze. It is then revealed that Jack is not dead, much to Michael's shock. Jack tells Steven and the woman to leave the room, so that he can talk to his brother alone. As they are embracing, Michael manages to take Jack's gun. Michael then commits suicide by shooting himself in the temple. The movie concludes with Steve asking Jack if he's ready (after his brother's funeral), to which Jack replies, "I will be."

Cast

as Detective Jack Dobson *

as Ellen Schofield *

as Detective Steve Frayn *

Joe Lisi Joe Lisi (born September 9, 1950), also credited as Joe Lissi, is an American television actor. He appeared in the NBC television show ''Third Watch'' as NYPD Lieutenant Swersky from 2000 to 2005. He also appeared on the NBC television show '' La ...

as Lieutenant J.C. Hooks *

William Russ William Russ (born October 20, 1950) is an American actor and television director. He played Alan Matthews on the sitcom ''Boy Meets World'' (1993–2000) and appeared in the television series '' Wiseguy'', the soap operas '' Another World'' and ...

as Michael Dobson *

Faye Grant Faye Grant (born Faye Elizabeth Yoe, July 16, 1957) is an American film, television and stage actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Julie Parrish in NBC's science fiction series '' V'' between 1983 and 1985. Early life Grant ...

as Beth Frayn * Michelle Joyner as Morgan Cassidy * Victoria Bass as Susan Dobson * Melanie Tomlin as Amanda *

Jim Piddock Jim Piddock (born April 8, 1956) is an English actor, producer and writer who began his career on the stage in the United Kingdom before emigrating to the United States in 1981. Personal life Piddock was born on April 8, 1956, in Rochester, K ...

as Mr. Martyn *

Ed Amatrudo Edward Amatrudo is an American actor, best known for his role as Glenn Goodman, Juliette Barnes's manager, in the ABC television drama series, '' Nashville''. He appeared on a recurring basis starting with the pilot episode, aired in October 2012. ...

as Emilio * Danny Kamin as Prosecutor Dan Ayeroff * Harriet Grinnell as Louise Dobson * Lindsey Jayde Sapp as Nancy Frayn * Mario Ernesto Sánchez as Tony Garidi * Joe Hess as 'Minnesota' * Will Knickerbocker as Tommy Hawkins * Edgar Allan Poe IV as Ian Wicks * Billy Garrigues as Phillip Norris * Katherine Culliver as Kimberly Davis * Renate Schlesinger as Ingrid * Nick Xatzis as Theo (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * {{Andy Wolk 1992 films 1990s mystery thriller films 1990s erotic drama films American erotic thriller films Films scored by Graeme Revell Films directed by Andy Wolk Films set in Florida American police detective films The Samuel Goldwyn Company films American erotic drama films 1992 crime thriller films 1990s erotic thriller films American mystery thriller films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films