Link is a 1986 British horror film starring Elisabeth Shue and Terence Stamp. It was directed by Richard Franklin (Roadgames) and written by Everett De Roche (Patrick) from a story by Lee David Zlotoff and Tom Ackermann. The score was provided by Jerry Goldsmith. It was filmed in St. Abbs, Scotland.
Plot Teaser:
Jane, an American zoology student, takes a summer job at the lonely cliff-top home of a professor who is exploring the link between man and ape. Soon after her arrival he vanishes, leaving her to care for his three chimps: Voodoo, a savage female; the affectionate, child-like Imp; and Link – a circus ape trained as the perfect servant and companion. Soon a disturbing role reversal takes place in the relationship between master and servant and Jane becomes a prisoner in a simian house of horror. In her attempts to escape she’s up against an adversary with several times her physical strength – and the instincts of a bloodthirsty killer…
Although the title primate is clearly an orangutan, he is referred to as a chimpanzee through the entire film, and his fur appears to have been dyed black (Orangutans have reddish-brown fur).
The film was bought for American release by Universal, who cut eight minutes out, despite Franklin’s objections. When EMI was taken over by the Cannon group, five more minutes were cut out.
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Reviews:
“A great climax and priceless final shot bring the film to a sublime close and I was left sitting in the dark, wondering just how the hell the movie had worked at all. It’s a thought I find myself having during many Cannon productions. All production technicalities aside, Link stands with the best the company has to offer.” The Parallax Review
“Whilst Link is not a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination it is an enjoyable watch. We wouldn’t necessarily call the film a horror but it’s certainly horrific as the events escalate. With a tighter story and a better score it could have been very different. As it is Link is a fairly effective film that could have been so much more.” Entertainment Focus
” Link isn’t a bad film – but the best thing about it has to be Link himself. At times the thing really looks evil, and at no point do you think “ah look, he’s just playing” or “it’s a bloke in a suit!”. Unfortunately, it being a mid-80s film, it is saddled with some of the worst music ever committed to celluloid, which starts off just being intrusive and ends up totally inappropriate…” British Horror Films
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