As a Thriller, ‘Scissors’ Can’t Cut It

If you’re unlucky, or foolhardy, enough to find yourself in the Monica Theatre for a screening of “Scissors,” you might while away the time noting how it botches just about every thriller cliche ever invented. Filmmakers sometimes say they can learn more from bad movies than from good ones. For aspiring thriller directors, “Scissors,” written and directed by Frank De Felitta, could serve as a how-not-to textbook. (It’s unrated; contains gratuitous nudity and mayhem.)

The film has something to do with a repressed homebody (Sharon Stone!) who collects dolls and is sexually assaulted in her apartment house’s elevator by a mysterious red-bearded man.

On hand to commiserate are twin co-apartment dwellers, Alex and Cole: Alex plays a psychologist on a TV soap opera; wheelchair-bound Cole is an Expressionist painter and a nut-case. Both are played by Steve Railsback, who is aging to look like Richard Crenna’s twin.

Ronny Cox plays the homebody’s therapist; Michelle Phillips plays his politician wife. They all look like they’d rather be cleaning out latrines with a toothbrush.

‘Scissors’

Sharon Stone: Angie Anderson

Steve Railsback: Alex/Cole

Ronny Cox: Dr. Carter

A DDM Film Corp. presentation. Director Frank De Felitta. Producers Mel Pearl, Don Levin, Hal W. Polaire. Screenplay by Frank De Felitta. Cinematographer Tony Richmond. Editor John Schreyer. Costumes Del Adey-Jones. Music Alfi Kabiljo. Production design Craig Stearns. Art director Randy Moore. Set decorator Kara Lindstrom. Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes.

Unrated (contains nudity and violence).