SETTLING THE SCORE

US, 1989, 93 minutes, Colour.
Jaclyn Smith, Jeffrey De Munn, Louise Latham, Howard Duff, Amy Wright, Richard Masur.
Directed by Ed Sherrin.

Settling the Score is a melodrama, designed for the wide television audience, about rape, incest and revenge. Jaclyn Smith portrays a policewoman who returns to her home town after 20 years to solve the mystery of who had raped her - a rapist now guilty of rape-murders. She encounters hostility from her parents, friendship from her brother, concern from a doctor in the region. The film moves to a melodramatic climax and the revelation of the rapist.

The film has a particularly strong cast with Richard Masur, Amy Wright, Louise Latham, Howard Duff, Jeffrey de Munn supporting Jaclyn Smith. The movie, while particularly American, nevertheless confronts issues of universal significance.

1. Impact of the telemovie? Characters, situations? Themes of rape and murder?

2. Chicago introduction? Kate as a policewoman? Her return to her home town? The picturing of the town, the homes, police station? Action sequences? Editing and pace? Score?

3. The title and its focus? On Kate and the twenty years of her life?

4. The portrait of Kate: the successful policewoman, her arrival back home, the reaction of her mother, her father's hostility, Lincoln's friendship, Becky's suspicion, Justin wary? Friendship with Josh - and his not answering her inquiries? Meeting Tucker at the dance and his hostility, symbolising the hostility of the town? Her police investigation? Her own search?

5. The flashbacks to the rape, the suggestions, her being tied up, the violence? The other women raped and murdered? The ropes, the knots? Her own anguish? Concern and investigation? Her father's information about the knots, left-handed knots?

6. Her experience through revisiting her home? Hostility of people? Friendship of Josh, his support? The police and their investigations? Her family and their hostility? The discovery of the truth? The confrontation with Lincoln, his laughing, the gun, his violence, Becky's surprise? Becky and her being hurt? Justin and his fears? Her father and his reaching out?

7. The character of her mother, seemingly loving and protecting? Her burning her hand? In bed? The irony of her knowing the truth, trying to protect Lincoln? Her hostility towards her daughter? The final words and Kate going away?

8. Lincoln, his marriage, son? The suggestions of sexual behaviour? His attitude towards his sister? The revelation of the truth? His madness, confronting his sister, the violence? His death?

9. Josh and his interest, friendship with Kate, helping her on the case, the open-ended ending?

10. Realistic themes? Rape? Reputation of the woman? Mysteries? Serial murders? Incest? Protective families?