The Wind, Meg Foster's Opus Magnum

Meg Foster!  Before her role in 1988's "They Live," which defined a generation, she turned in her magnum opus. As a damsel in much distress, this great 1980s actress excelled as another 1980's legend, Wings Hauser, acts as the slasher. Nothing says 1980s better than Meg Foster, Wings Hauser...but we can also add in David McCallum and Steve Railsback.  Today we look at a 1986 film by Nico Mastorakis, "The Wind."

As our film begins, Sian (Foster) is snuggling with her lover, John (McCallum).  She is a best-selling murder mystery writer and John is...well...useless (just like most men).  We will not speak of John again. To inspire her next novel, and perhaps get away from the milquetoast lover, Sian goes to Greece and rents a 1700 year old house on a cliff from Elias (Robert Morley).  She desires solitude and atmosphere.  Sian begins writing and is soon visited by Phil (Hauser), a slasher/psycho.  It is apparent from the outset that Phil is a psycho...as most men are.  This is confirmed early on as Phil begins murdering anyone he can find.  Now he sets his sights on Sian.

Sian is smart.  Her mind is warped anyway from writing so many murder mysteries.  This will help her battle the sickle-wielding madman.  What is it with sickles and Euro-Trash films?  Anyway, the battle is on.  More murders will occur and Sian's ability to call for help is hampered by the strong wind outside bringing down the phone lines.  Sian puts up a good fight finding imaginative ways to create weapons and mount a defense.  Running away is not an option as the wind is so strong she is liable to be blown off the cliff if she tries.  But there's hope...Steve Railsback is on his way. Who is Steve Railsback in this film?  A man...so probably useless in this mid 1980s feminist anthem. 

Will Sian, given that men in Greece are so useless, have to find a way to murder the murderer?  Does Phil the psycho have a good point in his fear and hate of a strong-willed and empowered American woman?  Is Phil's use of a sickle hidden symbolism of the bloody wrath Communism has put upon weak European countries?  See "The Wind" ands enjoy a tour-de-force performance of Meg Foster.