KILLER IN THE FAMILY
US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Robert Mitchum, James Spader, Lance Kerwin, Eric Stoltz, Salome Jens, Lynn Carlin, Stuart Margolin, Catherine Mary Stewart, Arliss Howard.
Directed by Richard T.Heffron.
Killer in the Family is a telemovie vehicle for Robert Mitchum. After a career of almost forty years toplining films, Mitchum moved into television with the mini-series The Winds of War and telemovies like One Shoe Makes It Murder and the present films. It is an excellent performance in one of the most unsympathetic roles in telemovies.
Mitchum portrays the father of a family in prison. Everyone regards him sympathetically till he escapes with his son's help and then it appears what a ruthless killer he is. There are sequences of his murdering a young couple with their baby and a friend which is emotionally powerful - and revolting. The film is allegedly based on a real story - and as a portrait of ugly American violence it is extremely effective. Rising starts James Spader and Eric Stoltz have early roles.
1. The impact of the film as an action telemovie, prison telemovie? Psychological study? Grim television viewing?
2. The background of Arizona, the contemporary prison, the desert? Location colour photography and atmosphere?
3. The impact of the film as a telemovie: for home audiences? A star vehicle for Robert Mitchum? Production? The treatment of a grim theme - violence and audience reaction to it?
4. The film was allegedly based on real characters and event. Its plausibility? The American tradition of criminals and violence? Gangsters on the run - even as heroes and folklore characters? The presence of crime? Violence, criminal chases, justice and the police?
5. Robert Mitchum's portrait of the criminal: the background to his being in prison, his status in the prison, his care for his sons during visits, his love for his wife? The plan for escape and the two sons involved? His wanting to exclude Donnie? His love for his wife - and his praise for raising his sons well? The build-up to the escape, Donnie's involvement? The smooth handling of the escape? The cars and the driving? The getting of supplies? The hideout? His growing ruthlessness? The friend telling a different story about Mitchum in prison? His being ruthless, the boss and never intimidated? The taking of the car, the terrorising of the young family? The absolute ruthlessness of the killing? The sons becoming afraid, their reaction? The possibility of leaving? The bond with their father? His words and plausible hold over them? The final chase and the ending? His escaping into the desert and dying? A ruthless man and the futility of his escape?
6. The portrait of the boys - their visit to the prison, relationship with their mother and their devotion to her? Donnie and his study of the law and knowledge of it, his girlfriend, not being part of the plan? Discovering his brothers working? His stance against the plan? Love for his father and helping? Participation in the escape? His reaction to the truth about his father, the deaths? The clash and his dying at the wheel? The younger son and his growing horror of his father? The other boy siding with his father? Their participation in the escape? Their arrest and the information given about their prison sentences?
7. The friend and his help’ during the escape, the reputation for ruthlessness, the gradual truth about him, his death?
8. The background of prison, the friendliness of the warders, the guards, the police? The escape and its ease? The police chase?
9. The portrait of ordinary citizens: the young couple and their baby, the horror of their being killed, the young woman with them? The man at the shop and his reporting the escapees?
10. The background of the media and their escalation of the story? Making the group as folklore heroes? Yet the ugliness of the reality?
11. The ultimate impact of the film? The portrait of criminals? Human values and relationships, loyalties? The ugliness of crime?
