OVEREXPOSED

US, 1990, 83 minutes, Colour.
Catherine Oxenburg, David Naughton, Jennifer Edwards, Karen Black.
Directed by Larry Brand.

Overexposed is popular television drama, but quite effectively and interestingly done. It focuses on a successful businessman, his wife, her suspicions of her husband's behaviour, her being seduced by his enemy with most plausible stories - who then blackmails her. Her husband's ex-wife and custody of children is also involved.

The film builds up its emotional impact with audiences identifying with the characters and resentful of the victimisation of the central character. Nothing particularly new, but quite effectively done.

1. Interesting telemovie? Family, business? Victims? Police investigations and the courts?

2. The urban settings, homes, offices? Technology and videos? The musical score?

3. The title, reference to Anne, Norm? The video and its use?

4. The focus on Anne, at work, her relationship with Norm? Stepmother, her own child? Suspicious of Norm? Watching him with Holly? Meeting Nick, the party? Nick's charm, infiltration? Going to the strip club, her not believing Norm, believing Nick, the seduction? The impact of the affair, his gifts of underwear? The phone call and her discovery of the truth? Shattered? Trying to cover, Norm finding out? The video? Her humiliation? The clashes with Gail? Custody of the children? Norm as distraught, her taking responsibility, asking forgiveness? The police investigation and their helplessness? Nick and his taunting, the danger with the car? The court sequences, Anne humiliated by the showing of the video, the question of custody? Winning the case? Her declaration of love for Norm - even prepared to divorce him if he could keep custody of the children? Their reconciliation? The fears for Nick's reaction, the confrontation with Nick, trying to cajole him? His arrest? Her future?

5. Norm, at work, self-made, success? His meetings with Holly - set-up? The phone calls? The dinner? The social at home? Friendship with Nick? His other friends at the office - and their later testimony to his integrity? His love for the children? Clashes with Gail? The discovery of the truth, distraught, angry? Response to Anne? Nick and his behaviour? The police, angry at the lack of protection? The court case, his keeping control? The reconciliation with Anne? The winning of the case, the rescue of his children? The future of the marriage?

6. Nick, ingratiating? Friendship with Norm? With Anne? His lies, stories about his past? Investigating Norm, feeding Anne and her suspicions? The hiring of Holly? The seduction? The relationship? Anne's finding out the truth? His lies, twisting his stories, pursuing her? The dangerous driving? Taking up with Gail and the seduction? The court sequences, his marrying Gail? And their clashing? With the daughter? The news of his failure, the violent confrontation, believing Anne or not, arrested?

7. Gail, the testimony about her many marriages, ignoring of her children? Her daughter not wanting to go with her? Fighting for custody? The marriage to Nick? Their clash? The portrait of the children - at home with Norm and Anne, the daughter not wanting to go with her mother? Playing computer games with Nick? The final confrontation - and Anne as her mother?

8. The police, ability and inability to help? In court? The judge and the no restraining order? The judge hearing the custody case, her judgment?

9. The credibility of the plot? Heightened for the sake of melodrama - but with the truth about malice, greed, people victimising one another?