FATAL BOND

Australia, 1993, 89 minutes, Colour.
Linda Blair, Jerome Ehlers.
Directed by Vincent Monton.

Fatal Bond is an Australian thriller, directed by Vincent Monton, best known as an award winning cinematographer. It is a star vehicle for Linda Blair, who has appeared in a number of small budget Australian thrillers. The hero is played by Jerome Ehlers (Shadows of the Heart, Weekend with Kate). The locations are attractive - the beaches of Northern New South Wales. The plot is conventional. The plot is conventional, there is a twist in expectations and a blend of romance and confrontation thriller. There are also overtones of religious fanaticism.

1. Interesting and entertaining thriller? Murder mystery?

2. The NSW locations, the towns, the coasts, the beaches?

3. the title, and the relationship between Joe and Leonie? Between Boon and his daughter?

4. The character of Joe, his type, audience expectations of him, his rough behaviour the fights, the drifter? His chatting up Leonie, insinuating himself into her life? The sexual relationship? His chatting up Bree? His leaving town, the screenplay seeming to indicate that he was the killer? His hopes going north, with Leonie? Meeting his brother, the fight? Leonie and the truth? Boon and his arrival, the confrontation? The thugs and the fire? His learning from the experience? Future with Leonie?

5. Leonie, the American, hairdresser, her friends, her loneliness, at the bar, seeing Joe, his violence, friendship? The pick-up? The sexual encounter? The effect on her, her wanting to leave, packing? The drive? Joe and his behaviour, the police, the dead bodies? Her fears, dreams? The final dilemma in watching his violence and assuming him to be guilty? A future with Joe?

6. Joe, his brother, the violent man, the confrontation, the fire?

7. Bree and Shane, in the town, wondering around, the photographs and the indication of the murderer? The sexual encounter, her death?

8. Boon, his relationship with his wife, children? Bibles, his cross? The interview and his anger and grief? The religious background, the quoting of scripture? His conversion? Thundering against evil? The funeral? His relationship with the police? Leaving town, pursuing Joe? The final confrontation, the fire?

9. The police, seeing them at work, the investigations, the enquiries travelling north? The interviews, the final confrontation?

10. The murder mystery, the resolution of the mystery of the deaths, the use of the photos, Joe innocent, Boon and his fanaticism? The romantic background - and further commitment? A future for Leonie and Joe?