OPEN HOUSE

US, 1986, 95 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Bottoms, Adrienne Barbeau.
Directed by Jag Mundra.

Open House is a routine thriller about a serial killer. It has some particularly gruesome moments, seeming to relish the visual presentation of the murder of several real estate agent women. This apart, the film focuses on Joseph Bottoms as a psychologist who runs a survival line phone-in radio programme and his girlfriend, Adrienne Barbeau, a real estate agent.

The mad killer, resenting the wealthy and those who have housing, rings in and gives leads for his pursuit and capture. He also pursues the psychologist's girlfriend, holding her hostage. The police investigate - and, of course, there is a final rescue.

The film, without the gruesome details, would serve as an average thriller entertainment.

1. The popularity of this kind of crime thriller? The serial killer? The issues and his motives? The victims? The grim and gory facets of the film?

2. City locations, the radio station, the mansions for sale? Homes? Garages? The radio station? Atmospheric score?

3. The title, the reference to the houses, the victims and real estate? Harry and his motives?

4. The focus on David Kelley: his radio programme, qualifications? Approval of this kind of programme or not? His studio assistants? The young girl ringing in and her suicide? His girlfriend ringing in and joking as Mary Lou? The genuine callers and their comments, fascist, genuine, mad? Harry and his calls indicating links with the murders? David and his handling of the situation? Relationship with his staff? Relationship with his girlfriend, her phone calls? His concern about her danger? Surveillance in the garage, his paranoid behaviour? Not wanting Lisa to go to work? Her presence in the studio, her abduction? The tracing of the calls? His going to her rescue, the confrontation with Harry? The finale?

5. Lisa, real estate agents, their being murdered, the concern of the company, going in pairs? Her phone calls to the radio as Mary Lou? Relationship with David? In the office, the abduction, with Harry, her fears, the rescue?

6. The victims - open house, real estate agents? Victimised by Harry? The ugly man and his boorish behaviour - and his death?

7. Harry, unseen, phone calls, his killing the agents? Audience finally seeing him, his explanations, his madness? The attack on Lisa? The police killing him?

8. The radio station executives, their decisions? The police, investigations? Accusing the radio station of boosting its ratings?

9. The authentic background to this kind of story? Transferred to the screen for entertainment, thriller? Entertaining? The exploitive touches?