THE IN CROWD

US, 2000, 105 minutes, Colour.
Susan Ward, Lori Heuring, Matthew Settle, Nathan Bexton, Tess Harper, Daniel Hugh Kelly.
Directed by Mary Lambert.

The In Crowd is a psychological thriller designed for teenagers and young adults. It focuses on the young rich, on summer vacation, with nothing to do but dress up, drink, play sexual games, play power games.

The setting is a summer resort in South Carolina. A young woman who has had mental disturbance and drug addiction is assigned to a job at the club. She encounters the 'queen bee' of the in crowd. However, this character, Brittany, is malevolent and, it appears, has committed murder and does so again. Needless to say, there are many complications and a confrontation between the two young women at the end. Susan Ward is the spoilt heiress who is the murderer. Lori Heuring is the young woman who comes through rehabilitation, confronting her demons, confronting the malevolent young woman. Direction is by Mary Lambert, who made Siesta and both Pet Sematery films.

1. The audience for the film? Younger audience? Younger women? The two leading characters, their psychological backgrounds, their confrontations?

2. The South Carolina settings, the Institute, the club, the beaches, the sea? An affluent setting? The wealthy young people and their clothes, cars, boats?

3. The total and the focus on the in crowd, their presumptions and arrogance? Brittany as the leader? Adrienne as not fitting in, lured into the in crowd? The in crowd and its masks and emptiness?

4. The musical score, the range of songs, the final song about 'behind every woman is a trail of men'? Its ironies?

5. Adrienne and the initial interview, the doctor, the psychiatrist? Their hesitations about releasing her? Her promise to the doctor? Getting employed, working at the club, the hostility of the manager? Her meeting the in crowd, her one-upping them with the snake and the answer to the crossword puzzle? Her reminding them of Brittany's sister? Brittany and her drawing her into the in crowd, the party on the beach, Kelly being rude to her, Brittany's hold over her? The dresses, going dancing together? The tennis lessons? The effect on Adrienne, her breaking her promise not to drink? Her criticisms of Kelly, Joanne warning her about Brittany? The young men? Tom coming on to her and her overhearing Brittany rebuking him? The break with Brittany? The death of Kelly? The discovery of Sandra's shoe? Her realising what had happened? Bob and his coming to her in the institution? Her being arrested for the murder of the psychiatrist? The plan to confront Brittany and trap her, the shoe, the ring? Bob making a mistake and Brittany's pursuit of Adrienne, the fights? The finale in the pool and Adrienne's vindication?

6. Brittany, glamour and wealth, the photo, the story of Sandra and her belittling her? The attraction towards Matt? Brittany as queen bee, luring Adrienne, using her charm? Sinister? The dancers, the dinners, the dresses, confidentiality on the beach? The proposal to Tom? Her relationship with the psychiatrist, going to the hospital to help? The murder? Covering up? Her being unmasked at the dinner, digging up the body, the confrontation with Adrienne? The pursuit, trying to drown her? In the institution - and trying to be seductive to the guards?

7. The other members of the group: their backgrounds, wealth, drug-taking, rehabilitation? Childish games? Sexual relationships? Drinking? Swimming, boating, clothes, sport? Matt and his role as the tennis coach and his being in the group and yet on the outer? The range of characters, especially Bob and his helping at the end, Kelly and her jealousy, Brittany loosening the nut on the bike, her accident? The truth about Kelly's help? Brittany drowning her?

8. The psychiatrist and the doctor, their concerns, study of Adrienne? The doctor at the club, continually supporting her? The attraction to Brittany, the incident, his death? The doctor and her being drugged and Adrienne escaping to confront Brittany?

9. The background of the club, Joanne and her help, the manager and his hostility towards Adrienne?

10. Popular ingredients for a psychological thriller - a crowd pleaser rather than a psychological study?