NIGHTMARE AT BITTER CREEK
US, 1991, 92 minutes, Colour.
Joanna Cassidy, Tom Skerritt, Lindsay Wagner.
Directed by Tim Burstall.
Nightmare at Bitter Creek is a routine action telemovie, done by the book. It is a star vehicle for Lindsay Wagner as the leader of a group of women on an excursion into the mountains. Tom Skerritt co-stars as an alcoholic guide who helps the women when they are beset by a group of right-wing Aryan fanatics. (It is interesting to note that in the late '80s, right-wing groups inhabited many areas of the Rockies in such films as Dead Bang, Malone, Pink Cadillac.)
The film builds up the characters, prepares us for the stalking and the conflict. There are no surprises, though the film is efficiently done. Direction is by Australian Tim Burstall (Alvin Purple, Peterson, Last of the Knucklemen, Kangaroo.
1. Interesting and entertaining telemovie adventure?
2. The mountain locations? Scenery? The menace in the forest? Stunts and special effects for the conflict? Musical score?
3. The title, the American West, adventures in the 1980s?
4. The establishing of the characters of the women? Their arrival at the town, plan for the trip, sense of adventure? Their finding the guide, his drinking? The fierce dog? The manager? Their going on the expedition? The fight with the horseman, his going down the mountain and his being killed? The women and the crisis? Lindsay Wagner as the leader, her courage and convictions? Collaborating with the guide? In action, on the cliff, the guns, her being wounded? The mother and daughter and their fears? Participation in the flight, being wounded? Alison and her fears, the ordeal, her screaming at people being shot, getting the gun and shooting the killers?
5. The guide, his drinking, his going up the mountain, reluctance, finding the sign broken, the dead man after the fight? His guiding the women, going with his dog, falling down the cliff? The fight with the military men? His being wounded? Guiding the women, the final confrontation?
6. The old man and his organisation, wanting the guide to go up the mountain? The news about the lost people? Collaboration with the police? Helicopter search?
7. The opening with the attack on the house? The SWAT team? The paramilitary organisation? Shooting, the arsenal, booby traps? The escape of the men? The background of their right-wing group, robbing banks, fanaticism? Communications with the radio? (And the group listening in?) The pursuit of the women, the fights, the waterfall? The cliff, the final confrontation and shooting?
8. The plausibility of the plot? The group of women? The right-wing group? The mountain guide? His dog? Their coinciding in the adventure? The happy ending - even to the dog?
