CHILLER
US, 1985, 104 minutes, Colour.
Michael Beck, Beatrice Straight, Laura Johnson, Paul Sorvino, Dick O’ Neill.
Directed by Wes Craven.
Chiller is atmospheric thriller about Cryogenics. It was directed by Wes Craven who has been accorded something of cult status with such films as The Hills Have Eyes and his originating of the Nightmare on Elm Street series. Other films include Deadly Blessing, Deadly Friend and The Story of Hoodoo, The Servant and the Rainbow. Craven makes very vivid films, especially for cinema screens.
This is evident in his over the top style with Shocker (1989). However, with this film designed for the television screen, he shows what he can do with a more restrained style. The film raises the morality of Cryogenics as well as its psychological and philosophical possibilities. The film comes down against Cryogenic practices - the destruction of the soul and the inability to resurrect the soul while the body is merely resurrected. The film has a strong cast including Michael Beck as the man bought back from the dead, Beatrice Straight as his mother, and Paul Sorvino as a minister.
1. Entertaining thriller? The horror touches? the plausibility of the plot?
2. Audience response to Cryogenics, the freezing of bodies, the hopes for surgery when techniques have developed and the body is able to be thawed? Possibilities of thawing the bodies and destroying the hopes? The emotional involvement by relatives in the use of Cryogenics? The philosophical implications of the death soul and its inability to return to the body.
3. Scientific background, the laboratories, doctors and surgeries? The ordinary home? The business world? Authentic atmosphere for this thriller?
4. The title - and its ironic meanings?
5. Miles Creighton and his illness, his mother freezing him? The passing of the years? The sinister atmosphere in the laboratory, the guards and the thawing? The body coming alive - with no soul? Miles Creighton revived, the techniques on the operating table, his recovery? Being re-united with his mother, the return home, his attitudes towards Stacey? Towards the Rev Penny? Encounter with the dog - and his killing of the dog? The encounter with the business partner, going to the meetings, his ruthlessness, the woman assistant and his using her? The confrontation with his fathers' friend, his heart condition, making him, walk up the stairs, his death? His treatment of his mother? Her refusal to believe the truth? Confrontation of the Rev Penny? The doctor's and their work with him? The clash with his assistant and her seeing through his plans? The truth about him - the re-creation of a monster?
6. Mrs Creighton, her love for her son, having him frozen? Her anguish, hopes, the legal advice, her prayer and the support of the Rev Penny, her reaction to his criticisms? The doctors and her pressure? Miles reviving? Re-united with her son? Spoiling him? Stacey in the household? Her not wanting to believe the truth? The business discussions, her husband, the news of his death? Rev Penny's illness? Having to face the truth, the final confrontation with her son, her finally killing him? The irony of her attitudes towards life and death?
7. Stacey, her place in the home, her relationship with Miles, the death of the dog, the menace in the household, her fears?
8. Reverend Penny, support of Mrs Creighton, coming to the hospital? His philosophising about the body and the soul? The accident, his being victimized by Miles? In the hospital, his revival?
9. The business partner, friendship, working with Miles, his age, being ousted, the treatment at the meeting, his drinking, going up the stairs and his heart attack? Miles callous attitude towards him?
10. The board meeting, peoples agreement with Miles, his high-handed behaviour, the woman assistant, her shrewdness, the liaison with Miles, furthering her ambitions? His using her, her reaction?
11. The plausibility of the plot, audiences going along with the presuppositions, the atmosphere of menace, the thriller techniques, the dramatic ending - or the flat touch?
