Sergeants Fontain (Pamela Hensley) and Buckhold (David Young) are on a stake out. Lately there have been some murders that make the police think there may be a serial killer in the city. Despite their best efforts, a police officer, dressed as a woman and participating in a sting operation, ends up a victim of the killer.
Adrian Wilde (Michael Callan) is a professional photographer who mostly works freelance. Lately he has been seeing a psychiatrist, Dr. Frank Curtis (Seymour Cassel). Adrian has been having trouble sleeping. He has been experiencing violent nightmares in which he kills his models in different horrific ways. Adrian’s nightmares begin to come true when police begin to find the dead bodies of his models.
Adrian tries talking to his brother, B.J. (James Stacy), a stunt driver who lost his left arm and leg in a car accident. B.J. himself, having lived with the same parents and going through issues with his divorce, is also not wrapped too tightly.
Adrian meets Mindy Jordache (Joanna Pettet). The two become romantically involved. Adrian’s life starts to unravel more, and he begins to believe that he may be responsible for the murders of the models. He ends up on the verge of insanity. Adrian comes under the suspicion of Fontain and Buckhold.
“Double Exposure” was released in 1982 and was written and directed by William Byron Hillman. It is a low budget horror and psychological slasher thriller with giallo undertones. Technically the movie is a re-make of the film “The Photographer” 1974, which also starred Michael Callan. At one time the movie was a little difficult to find but now it is available on DVD. The aforementioned “The Photographer” is far more elusive.
The movie has a few flaws but for the most part it was an interesting and tense little thriller. It’s mostly labeled as a horror film, but it follows the basics of a psychological thriller more. Callan does an over-the-top performance of a man whose demons have taken over his life. It is worth checking out.
Michael Callan's younger sister appears as an extra in the mud wrestling scene. Joanna Pettet's son has a small role as the little boy in the elevator. James Stacy, who plays B.J. Wilde, actually lost his arm and leg in a motorcycle accident in 1973. At one time Stacy had been married to Connie Stevens and then Kim Darby.