Caveman's Valentine, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -3 1/2

Artistically, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE is intriguing with its visual flashes into the mind of homeless, schizophrenic Rom Ledbetter (Samuel L. Jackson), who lives in a cave in the middle of a New Yorks Central Park. He believes hes being watched from the top of the Chrysler Building by a powerful, wealthy man. Once considered a musical genius, Rom dropped out of Julliard School and married Sheila (Tamara Tuni), who now appears in his imagination as the voice of reason. Early one winter morning Rom emerges from his cave and finds the frozen corpse of a young man known to the homeless community as Scott. A frantic call to Lulu (Aunjanue Ellis), Rom's police officer daughter, starts an investigation, but Lulu begs her usually incoherent father not to interfere. Nevertheless, the "caveman" learns Scott was a well-known photographer's model and rumored to be the victim of horrendous physical and sexual abuse. Rom's search for truth becomes an obsession and a chance to earn Lulu's love and respect. Dark and disturbing, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE may not be a big box office hit, but Samuel Jackson's performance and the classical musical score are both outstanding.

Many gruesome, photographic images of nude young males being tortured support the rumors that Scott was the victim and slave of photographer David Leppenraub (Colm Feore). Grotesque torture instruments, wax-like body parts, and a realistic human heart model in a birdcage fill Leppenraubs studio. Some photographs also include male rear nudity. As Rom begins to piece the facts together, he is almost run down by a car, chased through the woods, and shot at. Another time hes brutally beaten and kicked. Leppenraub's sister seduces Rom and tries to convince him that her brother is not a sadistic torturer. The very sensual and fairly graphic scene includes nudity. Rom is also shown removing his clothes for a shower, briefly revealing side and rear views of his nude body. Atrocious, offensive language includes 47 obscenities, 22 moderate crudities and some regular profanities. While THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE draws sympathy for the mentally disturbed and homeless, much of the film's content centers on the dark heart of society.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91606