CROSS COUNTRY

Canada, 1983, 104 minutes, Colour.
Michael Ironside, Richard Beymer, Nina Axelrod, August Schellenberg, Brent Carver.
Directed by Paul Lynch.

Cross Country is a rather ugly Canadian thriller, directed by Paul Lynch (Humongous). It stars an ageing Richard Beymer (West Side Story, Adventures of a Young Man). Michael Ironside, a regular in Canadian films as well as American (Total Recall), is the pursuing policeman. It focuses on a television commercial maker, who, it seems, has brutally murdered a call-girl, his girlfriend, out of jealousy. He picks up a young woman who has appeared in a commercial and wants to go to California as well as her brutal boyfriend. They go across America. The characters are quite unsympathetic, however realistically played. By the time the group reaches the Grand Canyon and the policeman catches up, with some rather spectacular finale touches, it is too late to learn that the man is innocent and it is the young hitchhiker who is the murderer. While the twist is effective, audience sympathy and interest has probably been long lost. (The compensations are the twist as well as some spectacular photography and a car crash over the Grand Canyon or its environs).

1. Canadian thriller? Murder mystery? Police pursuit?

2. Philadelphia backgrounds, the American locations, Arizona and the Grand Canyon? Stunts and special effects? Score?

3. The title, the literal cross country chase?

4. The portrait of Evan: ageing, relationship with Judith, going to see her, the evidence of her murder and the brutality? His going to the diner, meeting Lois, the fight, her saving him? The car trip, with Johnny? Evan's moods and violence, Johnny and the knife? The brutality? Taunting? Reckless driving? The sexual encounters with Lois? The change of moods? The confrontation with Johnny, the sexual encounter in St. Louis? Johnny's death and audience presumption? The Grand Canyon, the arrival of the policeman, the deal for the money, Evan's refusal, the revelation of the truth? The fight? The drive with Lois in the car, seeming to commit suicide and kill her, his leaping out and her going to her death? His background as a TV Film maker, testimony of his friends, connections with the sex industry? How sympathetic a character?

5. Lois, in the club, dancing, talk about the commercial, friendship with Evan, his defending her, her helping him, Johnny? In the back of the car, talk, insinuating her self into his friendship, falling in love? The clashes with Johnny? The knife, on the road, St. Louis, Johnny's death? The irony of her being the killer? Her own death?

6. Johnny, tough, the knife, in fear of his life, brutal, clashes with Evan, pressure on Lois, the girl in St. Louis, his death?

7. The policeman, his wife in the coma, the need for money? The investigation? Gradual detection, investigations about Evan, interrogations? Flying to Arizona, his plan, confrontation with Evan, wanting the money, the truth, his being wounded?

8. Judith, her work, call girl, escort agency, her personality, dominance, her death? Seen in the video?

9. The background of escort industries, corrupt people involved, corrupt practices?

10. How effective as a thriller - with unattractive characters and unattractive behaviour?