NIGHTMARE

US, 1991, 95 minutes, Colour.
Victoria Principal, Paul Sorvino, Gregg Henry.
Directed by John Pasquin.

Nightmare was executive produced by its star Victoria Principal. She portrays a mother whose daughter is abducted and assaulted. Eventually, confronted by the perpetrator, she threatens him and finally shoots him, concealing it as a suicide. However, the sympathetic lieutenant, played by Paul Sorvino, knows the truth and gradually coaxes this from her.

The film highlights current themes of dangers to children, unscrupulous abusers, serial killers. However, it also takes up the theme of private vigilante justice. The ultimate resolution of the film is that truth must be told, personal responsibility accepted - even though the justice system might not prosecute. However, there is a final image where the estranged widow of the perpetrator threatens the heroine. Jonathan Banks is the villain. The film was directed by John Pasquin who went on to make Tim Allen comedies, The Santa Clause and Jungle to Jungle.

1. Audiences identifying with characters and themes? Divorced couples, single parents, the danger of abduction and assault? The justice system?

2. The title, Dana and her nightmares, Linda's nightmare?

3. The setting, the small American town, school, streets, homes? The holiday house on the lake? Audiences identifying with characters in these settings?

4. Linda, her skill as a maths teacher, her abrupt and somewhat abrasive character? Love for Dana? Taking her to school, Susan and her friendship? The sequences in the classroom? The news about Dana's disappearance, communicating with the police? Dana's return, Linda's concern? The nightmares? Linda's revealing the abductor? The arrest, the confrontations, the threatening phone calls? The court hearing, the bail, his being released, stalking them in the house? Her going to his house, the confrontation, his threats, Linda shooting him? The cover-up and getting out the window? Her going to the holiday house, Dana safe, the concern of her friends, the boyfriend? Her moodiness? The visit from the lieutenant, his indications that he knew what happened? His interrogation of the principal? Linda and her return, isolation, going to the social? Questioned by the principal? Being called in, the hypotheses, the admission of guild? The lieutenant letting her go? Her being stalked by the widow, the final threat of the widow? Audiences identifying with the character, her behaviour, her action, the violence, the cover-up, the pangs of conscience?

5. Dana, the 11-year-old, her relationship with her mother, the absent father? At school, her friends? The abduction, its effect? Ryter and his lies? The concern of her mother, going to the holiday house? Her feeling guilty when hearing the news of his death?

6. Ryter, his separation from his wife and her support of him, attacking Linda? The end? His attitude, work in the factory, plea about getting together with his wife, his lawyer? The threatening phone calls to Linda? The implications of other abductions? Photography and his studying the course? The hearing, bailed, stalking the house? The confrontation in the house, the cruelty of his threats? The dredging of the lake, finding other victims - especially on the roll of film developed by Linda?

7. The school, the supportive teacher, his love for Linda, not understanding what was going on? Susan and her friendship, the holiday house? The principal of the school and the meetings, his concern about her?

8. Lieutenant Willman, semi-retired, fishing? Sympathetic investigation? Evidence? Explaining the background of the case to Linda? The hearing? The murder, his indicating to Linda that he knew? The final interrogation, letting her speak? Closing the case as a suicide? Discussions with the district attorney? The threat to go back to fishing?

9. The themes, the dangers, sex abuse and violence in contemporary society? The law, the system, justice?