The Cold Light of Day (1996) User Reviews

Murder, Pedophilia and Obsession in a Great Thriller

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 10 November 2013]

In the countryside of an Eastern Europe country, three little girls are murdered in the wood by a pedophile and found naked with one precise cut on the throat. Detective Viktor Marek (Richard E. Grant), who has come from the city, investigates the case, but his superior Pavel Nowak (James Laurenson) arrests a scapegoat, the pothead Alexi Berka (Thom Hoffman), and tortures the youngster to confess the murder since he is disputing the elections. Marek does not agree with the result of the investigation and resigns his job but continues to track the killer. While following a lead in an old road, Marek meets the girl Anna Tatour (Perdita Weeks) that has a flat tire of her bicycle and he offers a ride in his car to the girl. Then, he tells to Anna's mother, Milena Tatour (Lynsey Baxter), that she should instruct her daughter to not accept ride from strangers.

Marek becomes obsessed to hunt down the pedophile and he decides to rent an old gas station in the old road near to the place where the crimes where committed to see the cars that use the road and he invites Milena to cook for him with the intention of secretly using Anna as a bait. Meanwhile the killer is the disturbed pediatrician Vladimir Kozant (Simon Cadell), who puts his eyes on Anna while refueling in the gas station. But Marek has fallen in love with Milena and Anna and he decides to call-off his investigation.

"The Cold Light of Day" is a great thriller with murder, pedophilia and obsession. Viktor Marek is an interesting character that becomes obsessed to accomplish his promise to the parents of a victim and changes his life expecting to catch the killer. Anna is a beautiful character, pure and traumatized by her past. In the end, "The Cold Light of Day" is a thriller recommended for viewers that want to see a different and quite unknown movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Isca Mortal" ("Mortal Bait")

A pretty solid thriller.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 8 January 2021]

A recently finished cop sets out to catch a child killer, using a very dubios and dangerous means.

I rather enjoyed this, it's a good solid thriller, with some good characters, and really fine acting.

Richard E Grant is excellent, as always as the troubled Detective, Simon Cadell is excellent as the criminal, I had no idea he appeared in films such as this, having been so used to watching him in Hi-de-hi.

There are a few plot holes, I don't think anyone could argue with that, would he really have taken such a drastic course of action, in such a secluded place. I'm not too sure, but it does add to the drama.

The ending is very good, and dramatic.

Enjoyable, 7/10.

Unlikable Lead Hurt Otherwise-Good Crime Story

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6/10 · 26 July 2007]

This was a fairly interesting story but I didn't like the lead actor, Richard Grant, who played "Victor Marek." It's about a British cop ("Marek") trying to trap a sick child killer, and at the same time his mind is on a woman and her kid. He winds up using them as bait to get the killer. In doing so, he lost me.

He wasn't a "good guy," himself and certainly not a likable person that we are supposed to root for in the film. Even Richard Grant's looks in here (tell me that wasn't eyeliner on him) were annoying.

The best part of the film was the cinematography. This was a nice-looking film on VHS and it's too bad it isn't available on DVD. I wouldn't buy it, but I might rent it to catch the good photography.

Fair Remake

[Krisko1974 · 15 January 1999]

This is a fair remake of a grand old movie, "It Happened in Broad Daylight" (1958) or "Es geschah am hellichten Tag" in German.

The story is almost the same, but the movie is much more modern, of course. It has some Hollywood-like cliches that don't suit the original.

If you like detective stories of that kind you might enjoy it, but if you understand just a few words in German I'd always suggest to watch the original old movie with German cult-actor Heinz Ruehmann.

Well acted

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 8 June 2022]

A fairly low budget and unknown crime thriller of the 1990s, bolstered by strong acting. Richard E. Grant is a given as the edgy cop on the hunt for a serial killer who becomes involved with a single mother and her daughter. Some good moralistic stuff here, and amusing to see the guy from HI DE HI! In a very different kind of role.

Laugh out loud bad.

[djblach · 1/10 · 2 January 2021]

I can't actually believe some of the reviews praising this film, it's beyond bad. I found it by accident on Netflix tonight. Richard E Grant is totally miscast in this bizarre pantomime thriller. The acting is pure ham, the script is unintentionally hilarious and the plot is like something out of an Enid Blyton book. I can't turn it off, it's like a car crash I can't stop gawping at.

In The Cold Light Of Day... This is still rubbish.

[wrightiswright · 4/10 · 17 July 2015]

Now I don't claim to be an expert in the field of catching a child killer, but I'm pretty sure that renting a house next to the road where you think he frequents, and then hiring a woman under false pretenses to be your housekeeper so her young daughter can be used to lure him out into the open, is pretty reprehensible behaviour.

And yet, we're supposed to SIDE with rogue detective Richard E Grant's character here, in his mad quest to capture the murderer. The policemen who try to stop him and possibly save this child's life are depicted as being in the wrong... And there's your first problem from the off. What kind of sick mind would say that Grant was justified in his illegal activities? Not me... So a story based on this dodgy premise is difficult to watch when you hate the so- called hero's guts.

Aside from that 'slight' misstep, the actual portrayal of the killer is laughable. He has this stuffed dog puppet you see, and uses it to tempt his victims out into the open... Where he slits their throats. The way he voices this cuddly pooch though, could only possibly appeal to babies. No kid old enough to walk would go along with this weirdo, who talks like a lobotomised Play School presenter. And yet, all these young girls he slaughters think it's a 'magic dog' he's holding, and follow him like lemmings walking off a cliff. I didn't buy it for a second.

His motives are never really explained... All we know about him is he's a doctor, and he holds tea parties with child dummies at his house. A wacko most definitely, but a bit more information about his background would be nice if we're to be convinced he's a psychopath. Anything would be better than the endless scenes of Grant sitting around taking down the registration plates of cars, or his just-a- little-bit forced relationship with love interest Lynsey Baxter, who of course forgives for him for lying and putting her child in mortal danger at the hands of a predator for weeks. As you do.

And if all THAT wasn't bad enough, the acting here can be summed up in one word... hamtastic. What do you mean it's not in the dictionary?! Well, one day it will be. And you have this film to thank for putting the inspiration in my head. Well done, The Cold Light Of Day. You might as well be eulogised for SOMETHING... 4/10

A well crafted film featuring a wonderful character actor

[Halfdanish · 8/10 · 21 January 2001]

Not having seen the original (In Broad Daylight, if I'm not mistaken), I viewed this film without preexisting expectations and loved it. It's very suspenseful without using formulaic devices and had a really rich pace and rhythm. The characters are very real and three-dimensional and Richard E. Grant gives a wonderful performance (as always, IMHO). I tend to enjoy films that feature character actors in leading roles. They don't have the off-screen persona that tends to overwhelm character portrayal as sometimes happens with conventional leading men and ladies. Sorry about the digression. If you like suspense-thrillers that are intense without displaying a great deal of frenzied action, you'll like this movie.

Absolutely dire - was it meant to be a comedy?

[paudman · 1/10 · 9 January 2021]

The opening credits for this movie start with something like: "In a sleepy East European country..." I presume it's one with no television as even the most backward country couldn't produce rubbish like this. The movie opens in a dark wood... torrential rain, a line of what looks like monks walking in a line... then guess what? They're Police in raincoats, but the rain has stopped, and it's broad daylight... I honestly thought it was a comedy. Many of the voices are obviously overdubbed, but from reading the lips, it's from English to English, and it makes the entire thing seem like a cheap daytime-viewing drama. I lasted fifteen minutes, watching a never-ending parade of overweight balding men in sweaty vests mutter and mumble their way round dirty dingy corridors of what is meant to be a cliched, no frills communist-era building, run to the same budget that this movie obviously was. The only highlight was the car - a beautiful blue Tatra - belonging to the parents of the girl found murdered at the beginning. I hope nothing happened to the car; as for the rest of them... I didn't really care. Netflix owes me fifteen minutes of my life back.

mostly good!

[dclark26 · 7 October 2000]

well i watched this flick and had a feeling to check out the reviews online here. i wanted to see another film with good old richard e grant. was not disappointed. tis a good film. though a little warped. but the acting from REG is very good. seems like an odd number. reading the credits, seems like made in some european foreign country. perhaps made for tv. made for tv: normally a turn-off but this one is not too bad. but guy from hi-de-hi is not looking evil enough for his role. well, perhaps times have changed since it was made. check it out. depends on ur tastes but i was not disappointed. well-made flick. u want silence of the lambs, go rent it. this is an effort that hits the mark they intended. depends what ur into.

Bad acting bad story

[ritabella-52182 · 1/10 · 25 March 2021]

From the first few minutes of this movie you can actually see how bad it is . I didn't see any good effort to make this movie believable..from the ridiculous reaction of the murdered girl parent , the detective character to the cheap story . Completely wasted time .

Disappointing from a great British cast

[lindee-20510 · 4/10 · 16 February 2021]

Found the film on Netflix during lockdown,seen Richard E Grant was in it, and remember how brill he was in Warlock, Jack and Sarah and thought I'd give it a go,all I can say I've seen it wouldn't rush to a repeat viewing

A psychological study of a police investigator

[duane_vore · 9/10 · 9 December 1999]

Less satisfying than "Silence of the Lambs," but nevertheless haunting, suspenseful, and worth a rental. It was one of those that stayed with me.

At heart, it is the psychological study of an ex-cop (Grant)trying to balance two opposing aspects: his compulsion to apprehend a child killer and his growing love for a woman (Baxter) and her young daughter (Weeks). The struggle forces him to confront his own limitations, the denial of which leads to the climax and possible tragedy. This is paralleled by Baxter's convincing portrayal of a mother vacillating between suspicion and trust, fear and love.

The film subtly but effectively sexualizes the daughter to give us glimpse of childhood through the psychopath's eyes, a technique which sharpens and crystallizes both the plot and mood. Unfortunately, the psychological study of the killer, though ample, seems week and would have benefited from more attention by the writer.

Beautifully crafted thriller

[superknallen-1 · 10/10 · 12 August 2002]

In my opinion, this is one of the better movies to come out of Europe in the past decade. The film's power lies not, like so many of its Hollywood counterparts, in bombastic displays of action and violence, but rather in a well balanced mix of superb character development and a thoughtful but well-paced plotline. The film functions on many levels and probes deeper into the minds of its characters than almost any other film I've seen.

Totally worth a watch!!

[dilemmamom · 9/10 · 20 November 2019]

Others that gave this film low ratings are SO missing out. The character development is superb, the acting compelling, and suspense palpable in parts. No, it doesnt have desperate, flashy attempts at getting your attention. It doesnt need them. The introduction of Perdita Weeks was brilliant. Please dont shy away due to the poor reviews sprinkled in among true and brutally honest reviews. This one will stick with you for a long time...and I guarantee you'll be talking back to the television when you grasp the gravity of the developing story. Maybe you'll zhout about it... but you'll be held captive by this film until the very end.

Worth watching for the performance of Perdita Weeks

[callow-32800 · 10/10 · 27 September 2019]

Real good film with good performance from Simon Cadell, and Perdita Weeks such a good actress. Made me Jump in one part but won't spoil where it was. Good film all round.

Well Worth a Watch

[deborahjwood · 8/10 · 19 February 2014]

First let me say that one thing I LOVED about this film was the use of sound to set the mood - not noise and music but common every day sounds - the clinking of glass, the slamming of a cell door, the creak of a windmill the squeak of a child's swing, tires on pavement on and on -- and in moments when they were magnified -- just brilliant use of the ordinary to create the extraordinary.

On the whole, I am usually not too taken with foreign made (outside the USA & Canada) films so went into this with the idea I'll give it a few minutes - it's free on Netflix so nothing ventured nothing gained. Not being familiar with any of the actors my first reaction to Swaziland born Grant was Milquetoast - however, his passion in the role and believability took me quite by surprise - effective as an obsessed investigator looking into the brutal murders of three young girls. When, in a game of political chess, the wrong man is accused and commits suicide, effectively closing the case to further investigation, he leaves the department and personally takes the investigation to surprising lengths. Soliciting the help of a psychologist and his access to computers, he narrows down a locale to ferret out the perpetrator. He meets a homeless young mother (outstanding acting by Lynsey Baxter (The French Lieutenant's Woman))and sets her up as his housekeeper secretly using the daughter (a young Perdita Weeks) as bait.

The story effectively plays his obsession with nailing the homicidal pedophile against his growing affection for both the mother and daughter and he does a fine job of drawing you in to the conflicting emotions while leaving you unsympathetic to his using a child as bait for a serial killer. The killer is really rather brilliantly (and sickeningly) portrayed by the late Simon Cadell - Nice character development and surprisingly good insight into how a pedophile sees the world - a struggling mom in a war torn region protecting the innocence of her child, a detective who cannot let go despite the potential for heartbreaking results, a brilliant serial killer, all make for an edge of your seat thriller for the most part. Hauntingly beautiful locales in he Czech Republic. Drags in a few places but well worth a watch.

An absolut gem

[JaneBingley · 9/10 · 26 August 2023]

"Cold Light of Day" is a British thriller released in 1996, directed by Fhiona-Louise and starring Richard E. Grant, Lynsey Baxter, and Perdita Weeks. The film follows the story of a successful writer, John Tanner (played by Richard E. Grant), who becomes embroiled in a mystery when his daughter is kidnapped during a family vacation in the French countryside. As Tanner races against time to find his daughter, he uncovers a web of deceit and intrigue that challenges his perceptions and forces him to confront his own secrets.

The film explores themes of desperation, personal sacrifice, and the lengths to which a parent will go to protect their child. It delves into the psychological and emotional toll of such a traumatic experience and how it can lead individuals to question their own morality and decisions.

The acting performances, especially by Richard E. Grant as the frantic and determined father, are generally praised. Grant's ability to convey a range of emotions, from fear and anxiety to determination, adds depth to the character and makes the audience empathize with his plight.

It's worth noting that the film's reception can vary greatly depending on personal preferences and expectations. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with a focus on character-driven drama and tension, "Cold Light of Day" might offer an engaging experience.

In summary, "Cold Light of Day" presents a tense and emotional thriller centered around a father's quest to rescue his kidnapped daughter.

All reviews seem right

[claudiaesgeorgiou · 9/10 · 1 May 2021]

Just watched the movie and agree with praising and sceptical reviews alike. Had some happy laughs about some comments.

I take this 25 year old movie as a relic from the good old days when film making was more experimental than today, with actors's skin and blemishes clearly visible, human in the near absence of special effects.

Everything seems a bit roughly cut, the story, the acting, the surrounding. It's more like a stage play.

The story is simple. An zealous detective quits, upset by corruption and injustice and takes matters into his own hands in a very unorthodox way.

There are hundreds of similar themed thrillers around, sleek, sophisticated, modern. You've seen one you've seen them all.

This one is set apart and worthwhile watching b e c a u s e of its apparent crudeness, its retro atmosphere in the Tchec rural setting. It's thrilling in the way of little red riding hood and similar in its concept.

Based on a work of fiction by Swiss author Friedrich Duerrenmatt, in the middle of the 20th century with world war II just past, it is a bit unfair to expose this 1996 movie to a reality check. Nobody judges Grimm's Fairytales by their reality content, but we do get the meaning.

Maybe accidental, but the movie is arty in its rigid naivity and East European setting, and we liked it.

A Riveting Thriller

[ladymidath · 8/10 · 7 April 2024]

I love Richard E Grant and here he gives one of his best performances. Playing the role of a troubled police investigator, he is after a serial killer who prays on children.

After being forced out of the police, he purchases a run down petrol station and he befriends a young mother and her daughter.

The story is a brooding one with plenty of atmosphere and and a somber mood. This is a riveting story that really does have some twists and turns.

This is not a movie filled with car chases and shootouts and mindless action scenes, but a relentless hunting of a vicious and sick predator.

This is one movie I highly recommend.