AllMovie

Sort of a poor man's Basic Instinct, Cause of Death features a cunning and sensuous woman who seems to be using her wounded-angel posturing to get the men investigating the murder of her husband to not just take her side, but to put her on her back as well. A tip of the hat, then, to screenwriter Les Weldon who imparts more mystique than usual in this otherwise standard domestic murder mystery. Just when you think you've figured it out -- well, lookee here -- it's that missing security video, and suddenly your best guess is as good as any. Patrick Bergin's native Irish accent leaks into his dialogue during his angry scenes, but otherwise he's a deservingly sympathetic attorney trying to get his life moving forward after a tragedy. Joan Severance plays the "it couldn't be me, now could it?" seductress with a deft touch, and her love scene in red lingerie is rewindable. The action scenes are timed at a pace to make you think a lot more is happening than it really is, and that's an accomplishment. Not bad, and one has the feeling it's better than anyone involved expected.