You know you're in trouble when the first shot of a crime film shows a bound-and-gagged corpse that blinks its eyes. The wretched genre "thriller" Matter of Trust sins even further in its opening scenes by showing us a beautiful writhing young woman shucking off her clothes . . . for C. Thomas Howell!

After an awkward, expository credit sequence, in which we learn that a serial killer is offing hookers in Los Angeles' Echo Park neighborhood, we see more and more of the reluctantly boyish Howell trying his damnedest to play a hard-boiled alcoholic tough-guy police detective by the subtly symbolic name of Michael D'Angelo. Try as I might, I couldn't buy the portrayal. No matter the bushiness of the goatee, he'll always be a kid actor.

D'Angelo finds himself at the latest murder scene but screws things up thanks to a wicked, overplayed hangover. Soon he's embroiled in a nasty little mystery involving sperm and strip joints and sadomasochism. D'Angelo's ex is Theresa, played by the still fine-looking Joan Severance, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Howell would be more believable playing Severance's kid. Anyway, Theresa just happens to be the assistant district attorney, with whom the killer has a special telephone relationship.

Matter of Trust is one of those movies that never feels like a story unfolding so much as a bunch of third-tier actors horsing around with a camera. Frankly, I was hoping for more softcore sleaze, given the nudity of the film's opening, but the atmospheric sensuality dries up pretty quickly.

USA Home Entertainment presents Matter of Trust in a full-frame transfer of the film's original 1.33:1 home-video presentation. Detail is more than adequate for the content, and colors seem reasonably accurate.

The DVD includes only a Dolby Digital 2.0 track, but it's fairly engaging nevertheless. Dialog is accurate and clean, save for a few instances of distortion at the top end.

Not a damned thing.

Matter of Trust is at about the level of a Skinemax "erotic thriller," minus most of the good bits. Take a pass on this one.