RELENTLESS

US, 1989, 93 minutes, Colour.
Judd Nelson, Robert Loggia, Meg Foster, Leo Rossi.
Directed by William Lustig.

Relentless is a Los Angeles melodrama about a serial killer, a reject from the police force, the son of a relentless policeman who brought up his son trained in use of weapons, but emotionally scarred. Judd Nelson plays the psychopath. However, it is a police investigation drama with Robert Loggia and Leo Rossi excellent as the two policemen. The film has the atmosphere of Los Angeles, is a touch sensational when presenting the murders. However, it pursues its theme quite well, making audiences afraid of serial killers - and with a touch of explanation as to why this grim state of affairs should arise.

1. Impact of the film? Serial killer and madness? Cruelty and murder? Police investigation?

2. The realistic tone, touches of exploitation, the moral in the story?

3. The city of Los Angeles, flying over it during the credits? Buck Taylor's world, the world of the police, the victims? Musical score?

4. The title and its application to Buck, to his father's treatment of him, to the police investigation, especially that by Dietz?

5. Buck and his father: the apartment, the cupboard full of weapons and gear, his father's rejection of him, the memories of the target practice and his face being slapped, going under the trestle and being shot at? The photo of his father and its grim look? The effect on him, his hatred and misery? His making choices to kill, the phone call to Todd, hiding in the bathroom, the vicious murder? The addresses from the telephone book, writing the messages on the pages? His making the victims participate in their own deaths? Audience response to this violence and madness?

6. The murder of Todd in the apartment, the phone call? The murder of the musical composer, chasing her through the house, her hiding in the drying machine? The shooting of the light (and his target practice)? The murder of the couple, the man in the kitchen, the girl on the bed? His being visited by the police and the impression that he made on them? His shooting Molloy cold-bloodedly? Going to the doctor, spotting the police? His reaction against newspaper statements about his sickness? Going to Dietz's house, the boy as hostage, talking with him, the drink of juice? The wife and her response? His death? The note: `Thank you'?

7. Molloy as the old-timer, comments about the wealth of apartments, talk about food, the routine, waiting for reports? Seeing Dietz as a rookie? The growing bond between the two? Respect for each other? The invitation to the baseball match? The visit to Buck Taylor and remembrance of his father? His death?

8. Dietz and his work, moving from New York, nervous on the first day? Love for his wife, her patience and reason? His son, listening to the stories? Music practice? Getting the couple away from home under threat? The first day, the investigation, thinking it too slow, his being mocked, hypotheses and investigation? His response to the victims? Friendship with Molloy, beginning to understand him, the bond with him? Grief at his death? The boss and the report, his being told off? The discussions with Dr Park and enlisting his help as bait? The reporter and planting the story? The ruse for the armed men to guard the house? Recognising Taylor's voice? Speeding towards his home? Wearing Taylor's father's jacket, shooting him? Staying in Los Angeles?

9. The picture of his wife and son, her work, their support for him, concern about the victims? Helping him - how to react? Their being taken hostage, the wife not being a victim, the boy staying calm?

10. The picture of the police, the chief, press conferences, details of investigations, the research officer and his anger, Dietz calming him down, the secretary and the tip-off phone call?

11. The victims and the pathos of their deaths: Todd going to the police and their ignoring him? The composer and being pursued through the house? The boss, the use of cocaine, the girl in the apartment?

12. Stories from the headlines, going behind the headlines, police investigation? The comment on Buck being the son of a relentless policeman?