The Keeper
Canada 2004. Director: Paul Lynch
Cast: Asia Argento, Dennis Hopper, Helen Shaver, Charles Frederick

Lieutenant Krebs (Dennis Hopper) kidnaps a stripdancer in order to protect her from the dangerous and depraved life she's living. He locks her up in a little prison cell he has built in his basement and tries to convince her into chosing "the right path". When he's not trying to resque stripdancers, Krebs is "Deputy Rock", the star of a puppet show for children.

I think Asia Argento is great. She has a real personality that shines right through whatever weird mask she puts on, despite a limited range. I also think Dennis Hopper is great, nobody plays a nut like him. That said, it's a little bit of a bore to see them both once again predictably casted in roles they can play in their sleep. Argento brings substance and color to the prisoneress, but look like she haven't read the script. On the other hand, Dennis the Menace rambles on about all kinds of crap, giving out earning-points for good deeds ("The rewarding system is my religion") and nags about his rules ("Life has rules!"). Hopper certainly chew scenery like only he can do, but he also look bored by his lunacy, as if he's making a follow-up to Blue Velvet but doesn't really want to. Nevertheless he's fun to watch. What's not as fun to watch is the grotesque over-the-top performance by Helen Shaver as Ruthie the obsessed TV-producer during the second half. I really don't know about that.

As for the story, a clash between two troubled souls, it's original and fair enough but it would have been better off more focused. In the hands of the director of the original Prom Night it is both ludicrous and confusing before it gets totally off track and the general impression is that no one involved had a clue what to make of it either. It's part thriller, part black comedy and only part watchable. For good or bad, the performances make it worthwhile but everyone here can do so much better.