hyped garbage

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Part slasher, but mostly a detective thriller with some rather tame soft-core sex, from director Fred Olen Ray(..under the pseudonym Ed Raymond)regarding a serial killer hunting down models who were all part of a Sorority 5 years ago when a girl supposedly committed suicide driving off a curb near a bridge. The "suicide", which for a while seems unrelated to the rest of the film, is linked to the murders as transfered LA detective Shane Newman(Brent Huff)and his Hawaii partner Julie Seska(Kari Wuhrer)seek the find who is behind the homicides at a posh resort. Could the culprit be Derek Simmons(Winton Nicholson), the millionaire publisher of Cavalier magazine for which these girls were invited to the Hawaii resort for a shoot? Could it be mysterious photographer Taylor Cameron(Debbie Rochon)who is to shoot the girls? While on the case, Shane has altercations with the resort's manager, Miss Pratt(Kathy Cullis)who wants them to investigate quietly without announcing a serial killer on the loose possibly hurting tourism. To insure this, Pratt enlists Sam's superior to threaten his job is if he doesn't cooperate. Meanwhile, we also follow the exploits of the girls, Kristen Neal(Amy Lindsey), Megan(Belinda Gavin), and Amanda(Kalau Iwaoka)who become nervous about being targets. The first victim's boyfriend, Charlie(Michael Lloyd), who found his girlfriend murdered in a jacuzzi after leaving to fetch some water, might just know a possible clue that could help the detectives..which could put him in danger as well. The film alternates between Hawaii and Los Angeles, as Sam gets some much needed assistance from his former co-workers back home who themselves discover some interesting evidence regarding the suicide victim, Rachel Kincaid(Jen Nikolaisen), a pregnancy, and a college Professor in hot water, Andrews(Robert Donavan).The slasher element is rather uninspired as the attacks are very uneventful(..a strangulation, a drowning, the aftermath of a stabbing), but Olen Ray does what he can with developing the detective crime drama portion of the script. The actors deal with some pretty dire dialogue and rather irksome attempts at humor(..a lot of exchanges between the detectives, for instance, whose attempts at wit fall flat), but the location is stunning and cinematography sophisticated and polished. There are two lengthly car chases that are well executed and exciting, but this kind of film doesn't really need them. Plenty of tits, but the sex is photographed to avoid explicit details. Kari Wuhrer is a pleasant sight, and is featured in a sizzling fantasy sequence swimming and exiting a pool in a bikini as Sam dreams about her, moving uncomfortably in his bed. But, she is given standard, tired cop lingo and the role is the average detective looking for clues. She certainly deserves better. I didn't think Huff was that bad, given the usual detective role always in trouble with his superiors who demand for him to follow the rules and operate in a controlled manner. Olen Ray vet, Jay Richardson has an amusing cameo as Sam's LA superior, Hugh Janus(..say it a few times and you'll get the joke). The film has multiple endings as characters under aliases are discovered, correlating with Rachel, the victim in the opening of the movie. Rochon, unestablished in great length at first, does get to come into her own towards the end with a memorable, if cheesy/corny, confrontation with Sam at the end. The resort is simply an ideal, breathtaking place to shoot such a murder mystery, but I sure wish the slasher aspects would've been more inspired.

I gave this movie an eight because when I rented it I expected it to be terrible. It did not let me down. It was hilarious. I particularly remember one scene where a woman is showering for around two minutes. There was no point of this scene in the film as it did not advance it in any way. But that is the genius that makes "Final Examination" what it is. It is more than just pointless nudity, bad acting, and a dull plot. OK, OK, maybe it isn't. Plenty of shots of naked women saved this movie from just being another terrible B (maybe C) movie. If you are looking for a great movie to make fun of, this is it. Especially if you rent it and tell your friends it is supposed to be very good.

This movie is one of the worst films I have seen in several years. It fails on almost every level. First and foremost the plot is tremendously weak, uninspired and uninteresting. Though this movie clocks in at only 98 minutes it seems like an eternity and nothing really happens or even tries to grab the viewers attention. Its just painful to dredge through and frequently resorts to equally uninspired soft-core pornography as a simple means of keeping viewers from switching off the video. The acting is laughably sub-par and unprofessional (even for made-for-TV standards), actors seldom convey appropriate emotion or even motivation, even in events where characters are informed of their best friends deaths. Even if you find this movie at your local megastore's bargin bin (and you likely will) its still best to keep walking.

I thought this movie had it's moments. I'm a big Fred Olen Ray fan and will see anything he makes. I enjoyed most of all the last 15 minutes of the movie with the climax at the waterfall scene. It was fun seeing Kari in the movie too, I enjoy most of her films. I thought the scenery was beautiful, although seeing more of the tropical locale would have been nice. The male lead was OK, a little wooden. Debbie was cast well, I love seeing her play a psycho. The other women were not bad, but cheerleader types would have been better for this I think. I thought the actress in the opening scene driving the car off the bridge was beautiful. The story was thin, but that didn't bother me too much. If the script had of been better, the movie would have been better. Hard to fault the actors when the material is lacking.