i will state for the record that i be a big fan of kurt russell and it be his name on the marquee that first make me take notice of this film . after have see it a number of time first in the mid 1980 after if be release to negative review and poor box office receipt most recently last week i think that the mean season be an under appreciate and tightly craft suspense thriller that and in spite of what other review have state and do not pander to cliché this film be old enough to have help establish those very same trope that have since become clichés while remember and this be make before manhunter and silence of the lamb and 15 minute and etc etc . and be one of the first film to deal with the whole notion of fame or celebrity or serial killer and the lack of ethic display by journalist and who must rank somewhere below pimp and pickpocket in term of moral turpitude . the film benefit from excellent performance from kurt russell and richard jordan . a the two lead they carry the film while and richard masur and a russell editor and sell every line of his character dialogue with complete conviction . andy garcia make a very strong impression in what i think be one of his first role in a film and he be perfectly pair with richard bradford and who remind me so much of my 1st step father ( an ex marine corp drill instructor turn cop ) that i have absolutely no trouble believe him in the role of a burn out and bitter homicide detective . mariel hemingway have always seem miscast no matter what the role i think she be a very poor actress while she nearly destroy the fine work richard jordan do a the killer . he have a scene with her near the end where he threaten her with a knife and she be so awful and unconvincing it almost make me want to scream every single time i watch this movie . the direction by philip borsos be very tight while his framing and cut remind of hitchcock and there be a certain stylish elegance to the image ( each of the killing be film with a minimum of blood displayed but to maximum stylistic effect ) and all in all the plot hurtle forward at just the right level of intensity . i will admit that there be 2 example of egregious false scare in the mean season which be apparently studio mandate . ( no surprise and really ) and i guess i should deduct point for that and lalo shifrin sometimes bombastic score but i be not go to while because after 21 year of mostly pale imitator and the mean season be look well and well with age .