Obese lawyer Robert John Burke accidently hits and kills an old gypsy's daughter with his car one evening while celebrating winning a big case (and procuring pleasure from his wife while driving) and ends up being cursed by the elder who just says the word "thinner" to him and pretty soon he's dropping the pounds. Soon he gets the help of mobster type Joe Mantegna to go after the gypsy's and try and get the curse lifted.

Based on the Stephen King novel (which he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman) this is steady viewing with good make-up effects by Greg Cannom (including Burke's "fat suits" and a cool "ballbearing through hand" scene), okay acting and a downbeat tone; but what makes this a somewhat disappointing time is that despite a handful of decent moments this can't rise above its flaws of having a lead character who's mostly a jerk and the fact the movie has a really big mean-streak running through it (especially in the last third).

Kari Wuhrer (who's certainly cute) is wasted as the elder's slingshot wielding granddaughter, have a chuckle at how Manegna's character can get machine guns couriered to himself and grin at the almost laughable "killer pie" plot twist (which actually manages to become part of a pretty good finish).

Director Tom Holland also did the mini-series adaptation of King's The Langoliers.

Directed By: Tom Holland.
Written By: Tom Holland, Michael McDowell.

Starring: Robert John Burke, Michael Constantine, Lucinda Jenney, Kari Wuhrer.

Picture Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: There's a fair share of film dirt through the first third but that eventually dies down but generally it's a fairly clear picture that's acceptable.

Extras: Despite not having a trailer this has a pretty interesting featurette on Greg Cannom and his effects work and also has an okay commentary track by Holland and Mantegna.