DURESS

US, 2009, 85 minutes. Colour.
Martin Donovan, Sakis Rouvas, Ariel Winter, Billy Wirth, Catherine Dent.
Directed by Jordan Barker.

Duress is a complex thriller. It is also a psychological drama.

The film needs to be seen twice in order to appreciate the screenplay and the complexities of the plot. Clues are given in the initial credits but the audience does not know what to make of them.

Martin Donovan, in his usual lugubrious manner, plays a father whose wife has suicided and who is concerned about the effect on his daughter (Ariel Winter). He becomes involved with a serial killer who pressurises him to do his will on the pretext of protecting his daughter. There is also a police investigation into the disappearance of a small boy in the area in which the hero lives.

As the serial killer exercises more power, the central character reacts, even violently and irresponsibly, so that he learns what it is like to be a serial killer. There is a twist at the end, especially as the central character discovers the body of the boy in his basement and realises that his daughter is the killer.

The serial killer is played by popular Greek singer, Sakis Rouvas.

The film is an interesting psychological drama with many moments of violence – but was not taken up by the public and it received limited release.

1. The title, Richard’s experience? The duress and pressure on him from Abner? The audience sharing the duress?

2. Los Angeles, homes, diners, schools, police headquarters? The realism of the treatment?

3. The screenplay, the credits and the clues, suggestions? The narrative and the flashbacks? The confrontation? The investigations?

4. The twist at the end, audiences expecting or not? The need to see the film again to appreciate what was being presented and how it should be interpreted?

5. The plausibility of the plot, characters? Situations heightened? The surreal atmosphere?

6. Themes of power and control, the suggestion of kindred spirits, manipulation?

7. The importance of love, father-daughter, husband-wife? Responsibility, Richard and his daughters, prepared to go to extremes to protect his daughter?

8. The character of Richard, Martin Donovan’s performance, screen presence, morose? His wife’s death and the visualising of this? Later in his imagination? Her suicide? Sarah, her age, the severity of the shock? At school, Jenny and her comments about misbehaviour? Richard going to the diner, the encounter with Abner, the talk, the sudden death, the brutality, taking the body, to the stormwater channel?

9. Abner and his appearance, going into action, a killer, his power, the discussions with Richard, offering him choices? The phone, his continued surveillance, Richard going to the police, Abner’s warning? His surveillance at Richard’s home? The promise not to harm Sarah? Taking Richard to the caravan, the torture and murder of Jenny? The effect on Richard? Abner and his taking the dog to the detective’s wife, the embrace, the suggestion? Picking up Sarah and Richard’s reaction?

10. Sarah, at school, Jenny and her comments to Richard? Her malevolent look? The effect of her mother and death? The soccer(**??), the violence? Richard’s concern? At home, with her father, pretending to sleep, interrogating her father, playing with the toy?

11. The boy, diabetic, disappearing? The notices? The detective visiting Richard, the interrogation? Later and Richard going to the house, the encounter with the detective’s wife, Richard mistaking her for Abner’s wife? Richard as an intruder? The confrontation with the detective, killing him?

12. Abner, his making his point about violence, Richard’s violent behaviour and motivation?

13. Rosa, her place in the house, housekeeper, concern? Wariness at the arrival of the parcel?

14. Richard and the insects in the house, the discovery of the boy’s body? The record? Abner’s voice, describing what had happened?

15. The truth about Sarah? The truth about Abner? Richard discovering the truth about himself? What would happen to him after the film ended?