Thief of Hearts Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1984

Thief of Hearts is a well-crafted tale about forbidden desires, obsession and betrayal; one that grants us a glimpse into the lives of a married couple that possess a seemingly perfect relationship. While celebrating their sixth anniversary at a fancy restaurant, their home is ransacked by a professional thief, which leads to a chaotic spiral that has the potential to destroy relationships and even lives…

As Thief of Hearts opens, Mickey (Barbara Williams) and Ray (John Getz) Davis are celebrating their sixth anniversary at a first-class restaurant. Unbeknownst to them, Scott Muller (Steven Bauer), a master thief, has been waiting for this moment and invades the sanctity of their home, stealing many of their valuables. Scott leaves the home with an assortment of extremely valuable items totaling over $100,000, much to the pleasure of his partner, Buddy Calamara (David Caruso).

What was originally to be just another score for the two thieves slowly becomes a private obsession for Scott, as he uncovers a box of Mickey's private journals. As he reads her innermost thoughts and fantasies, he develops an unquenchable hunger for Mickey and becomes determined to subtly seduce her with the very fantasies that she hid from the world.

Although Mickey loves her husband Ray, his focus on his work and career has made her feel isolated, putting strain on their marriage and making her an easy target for Scott's plan. As Scott starts drawing Mickey into his web deeper and deeper, Ray begins to suspect his wife may be cheating on him. Buddy also becomes angered with Scott's unhealthy obsession, for it's distracting him from his thievery.

Will one man's obsession destroy a friendship as well as a marriage, or will lives be destroyed (literally) forever? You'll have to watch Thief of Hearts to find out.

If the above plot sounds like what one would expect from Lifetime or another similar woman's cable channel, you're not too far off the mark. Thief of Hearts is a movie that will appeal more to women due to the subject matter, but it's crafted far better than the straight-to-cable faire that are commonly referred to as "chick flicks." The obsession and characters' lives are generally handled in a realistic manner, which elevates the movie beyond a sappy cheesefest. The level of suspense and impending risk of violence also keep the movie moving forward, though there are a few points where the story begins to drag a little.

Barbara Williams and John Getz put out wonderful performances, capturing the nuances of a strained marriage perfectly. Steven Bauer also nails his role as the handsome thief with uncontrollable desires, as does David Caruso in his role as a positively slimy dreg of society.

The soundtrack consists of fantastic synth-pop that compliments the tone of the movie. I especially enjoyed Melissa Manchester's title track for the film, but if you enjoyed 80's music then you'll likely find the entire soundtrack appealing.

Thief of Hearts is one of those films that would probably be ideal for most couples as there's enough in it to appeal to both sexes, but the movie serves a pleasing dish even for single viewers. If you're a woman that enjoys this type of genre, you can probably add a point or two to my rating. If you're a man that dislikes it, subtract two or three.

Movie rating: 7 stars

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