This psychological thriller never quite achieves greatness but it’s certainly never boring.
The Temp is a pulpy, sexy, psychological thriller that serves up a handful of gory death sequences which blur the lines between the thriller and horror genres. While the film doesn’t get everything right, there are moments of greatness within. And on that basis, I am hopeful that horror fans will give The Temp a look and aim to appreciate it for what it is, as well as what it almost could have been.
The flick was released at a time when films about deadly female characters were dominating multiplexes. Pictures like Single White Female were striking box office gold. And the success of that feature, among others, led to many similarly-themed films being released in rapid succession. The Temp came around near the end of that filmmaking cycle. So, audience fatigue may be one of the reasons The Temp performed poorly at the box office. It remains relatively unknown.
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The Temp follows Peter Derns (Timothy Hutton), a junior marketing executive at a cookie company. We catch up with Peter as he attempts to climb the corporate ladder with the help of his new temp, Kris (Lara Flynn Boyle). Kris is effective, ambitious, and willing to do anything (including murdering anyone that gets in her way) to succeed.
Before I dive into what I think you will enjoy about the film, I should offer a disclaimer letting potential viewers know what to expect. The picture is a bit uneven. It seems like a dark comedy in campier sequences but comes across as a pulpy, psychological thriller during some of its more harrowing moments. Additionally, some of the performances are hammed up more than they should be. Studio interference also stopped the film from releasing with a delightfully dark ending that would have complimented the flick’s bleaker moments.
With the obligatory disclaimer out of the way, it’s time to talk about why the film is likely to appeal to horror fans. A case for which there are several arguments to be made. But the first that comes to mind is the level of carnage contained within. In particular, the paper shredder and grocery store product sample sequences are very visceral for a film of this ilk.
While pictures like The Hand that Rocks the Cradle or Fatal Attraction were content to allude to violence more so than show it in graphic detail, The Temp revels in it and isn’t afraid to let the stage blood flow. We have director Tom Holland to thank for the film’s graphic moments. He’s known to inject his more commercial output with some of his signature style. And there is plenty of that in The Temp.
Holland’s positive impact on the film is never more noticeable than in the aforementioned paper shredder sequence. He really amps up the tension by way of thoughtful editing, a tense score, and a keen awareness of exactly when to pull the rug out from under the viewer. And the tension doesn’t stop there. But they will likely have greater impact if I let you discover them, rather than spelling everything out.
Holland also deserves credit for assembling a cast comprised of several heavy hitters from genre cinema. Faye Dunaway (Someone’s Watching Me, Eyes of Laura Mars) features as an ambitious cookie company exec. And fans are likely to recognize Lara Flynn Boyle, who plays the overly-ambitious temp, from her work on projects like Twin Peaks and Poltergeist III. Also appearing is Oliver Platt (Flatliners) as a pervy junior executive with a wandering eye. And rounding out the extended cast, genre icon Lin Shaye (A Nightmare on Elm Street) pops up in a small, supporting role.
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Some of the key players took a beating for their performances in The Temp. Dunaway even received a Razzie Award for her role. But in spite of that negativity, the overacting should come as a delight to horror fans that appreciate a certain level of campy excess. The scene where Kris saunters over to a female executive and gets in her face regarding ingredients for a new cookie recipe is nothing short of high camp. After the two come face-to-face, Kris speaks just above a sensual whisper, simultaneously appearing combative and vaguely flirtatious. It’s sequences like that that make the film perfect for horror fans that love a little scenery chewing. I know I do.
So, based on what you’ve read, you probably know if The Temp sounds like your cup of tea. If it seems like it could be up your alley, I hope you will give it a chance. You may be surprised to find that the film is better than it has been given credit for.
