CAMERON'S CLOSET

US, 1989, 87 minutes, Colour.
Cotter Smith, Mel Harris, Tab Hunter, Scott Curtis, Leigh Mc Closkey.
Directed by Armand Mastroianni.

Cameron's Closet is a variation on the haunted house theme, with a touch of The Exorcist. Cameron is a young boy who is used by his father and his associate as an agent for calling up the powers of evil. They seem to come to earth via Cameron's closet.

There are the usual horrors and deaths, a psychiatrist who helps Cameron and helps solve the mystery. There is a sympathetic policeman who combats the power of evil because he has dreams in which Cameron appears.

The film is familiar material of the '80s. It was directed by Armand Mastroianni (He Knows You're Alone). Cotter Smith is persuasive as the policeman, Mel Harris is attractive as the psychiatrist. Tab Hunter makes a guest appearance as the father of the boy. Familiar material - but not a bad example of its kind.

1. The popularity of the horror film in the '80s? Nightmares? What if ... ?

2. The special effects, the creation of the monster? The stunt work and effects for the deaths? The eerie musical score?

3. The title and the focus on Cameron, on the young child (and the Exorcist tradition)? The focus on the closet and the haunted house?

4. Cameron and his ability to move things, being studied by his father and his associate, the video? The home sequences, with his father, the lyrical sequences with the bird and the hypnotism? The noises in the closet? His father hypnotising him and his death? Cameron coming to realise what was happening? Going to his mother's, the antagonism of Bob, the horror of Bob's death? The psychiatrist and her help? Sam and the investigation? The growing friendship? The eerie happenings? The noises in the closet, the emerging monster? The associate coming to hypnotise him and his death? The death of the policeman in the forest? The build-up to the climax -and Cameron in Sari's dreams, the struggle with the monsters, the destruction of the monsters? Cameron exorcised?

5. Sam and his work as a policeman, falling asleep, his dreams and the killing? Going to the psychiatrist? His fears? Her presence at the scene of the murder? The interaction, their becoming friendly, her helping film? His friendship with Cameron, taking him out? Cameron in his dreams? The death of his partner and the monster in the forest? Going to visit the associate, hearing the story, the video? His death? The build-up to the confrontation with the monster, the dream and Sari having to destroy the power of evil? The statue which Cameron had?

6. The psychiatrist, pleasant, listening to Sam, trying to help him? At the scene of the death, noticing Cameron's powers, talking with him afterwards? His trusting in her? The case, visiting the partner, seeing the video? her sharing in the confrontation?

7. Cameron's mother, her concern, the boyfriend, his antagonism, the violence of the burning of his eyes and his death?

8. The police partner, his death in the forest? their plan, it going further than they wanted? The death of
the partner?

9. Owen Lansing, and his partner, Lansing's death in the closet?

10. The horror film as a nightmare, audiences identifying, being scared, making comparisons with reality?