Though it sounds like a slasher film, This is actually a soft-core cops-and-
killers flick directed by Fred Olen Ray under the pseudonym "Ed Raymond."
Bounced from the LAPD for indulging his vigilante streak, Detective Shane Newman (Brent Huff) relocates to Hawaii. After exchanging banter with his new partner, Julie Seska (Kari Wuhrer), Newman discovers that the tropical sun offers no shade for cops. At an upscale resort, former college co-ed/fledgling swimsuit model Terri Welker (Kim Maddox) has been killed by a madman. Eccentric mogul Derek Simmons (Winton Nicholson) hired her for a photo shoot, but her boyfriend, Bill Culp (Jason Schnuit), can’t figure out why a millionaire publisher would build a magazine issue around bimbos who graduated from college five years ago. When a second ex-coed is murdered in a cave, Seska and Newman deduce that they're hunting a serial killer. As the remaining three models cower in beach towels, Derek’s photographer, Taylor Cameron (Debbie Rochon), tries to seduce Newman. At first, the police suspect anyone with a grudge against voluptuous beauties. Then they realize the targeted alumnae all belonged to a gossipy clique that drove one member, Rachel Kincaid (Jen Nicolaisen), to suicide.
When Newman asks Los Angeles colleagues to grill Rachel’s faculty advisor, they learn that Professor Andrews (Robert Donovan) was giving her more than advice. Bill gets killed before he can reveal that Simmons was Rachel’s brother, and a second vengeful assailant murders Professor Andrews. Although Seska guns down Simmons, someone else is avenging Rachel’s suicide — could she have another sibling who's running amok?
Less engrossing than any episode of Magnum P.I. or Hawaii Five-O segment, this pecs-and-sex thriller explores the topography of both the 50th state and the well-endowed stars. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
