LIES

US, 1983, 100 minutes, Colour.
Ann Dusenberry, Gail Strickland, Bruce Davison, Clu Gulager.
Directed by Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat.

Lies is an entertaining and. intriguing American gothic horror film of the early '80s - which also received good reviews from the critics. It plays with the clash between fantasy and reality - especially via cinema images.

The film also has a very good cast led by Anne Dusenbury with Gail Strickland particularly strong as the villainess. The film has echoes of many of the massacre horror stories of the '70s and '80s - but then moves to the stand-by of the mental hospital. (Echoes of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.)

Well-made and entertaining of its kind.

1. Impact as a thriller, mystery? Fantasy and reality, truth and falsity? Especially via cinema images?

2. A blend of exploitation and gory thriller with popular thriller? The dialogue giving a critique of the exploitation films?

3. A piece of Americana, atmosphere, contemporary, the massacre and horror movies, the film industry and its exploitation, mental institutions and their treatment of patients, the affluent world of society? Sex and violence? Mayhem? Truth and lies?

4. The focus on Robyn - her work in the horror film, her refusal of nudity. her clash with her agent, the relationship with Eric, her going to the film test? The young hopefuls and her being chosen by Jessica, the interview and giving a good account of herself? The plausibility of the film story? Her signing the contract, going with Jessica to the homie? Reading, acting? Being filmed on video? The tour of the asylum? The upset when the film was abandoned? Her wanting to go back home - Eric with another woman? The encounter with Stuart, believing his story, being seduced by him? her agreeing to pose as his sister - the set-up, the discovery of
the truth, the murder? Her being imprisoned in the mental hospital? Desperation, her manoeuvring of Jessica, deceiving her about the pills, the fight with the nurse, the escape? Her being watched? Sedated and shock treatment? The escape with Dr. Bartlett, the rescue by Eric? The violent ending? A girl sure of herself - but made a victim?

5. The prologue and its ugliness, Stuart and his presence at the massacre, his taking photos of Robyn? His revealing his truth, the seduction, sequel encounter, Robyn consenting to pose as his sister, the greetings of the uncle and aunt, the trap, the death, the use of the video? Stuart's ruthlessness, his pressures on Jessica and Dr Bartlett, his arrival, the escape, the shooting, being killed by Dr Bartlett?

6. Jessica and her toughness, her professional life, the interview, the acting and the videotaping, the tour of the hospital? Her hold on Dr Bartlett? her lack of scruple? The greedy doctor and his murder? Dr Bartlett's plea for her to relent? Her being tough to the end? Dr Bartlett and his compliance, changing motivation, playing his part, with-Jessica, relenting, helping Robyn, his being shot, driving the car at Stuart?

7. Eric as a writer, relationship with Robyn, the other girl? The phone call, getting Murray's help? His anger in the hospital, the arrest, his return, disguised as a security guard, helping Robyn with the escape? The tensions in the escape in the hospital corridors? Murray and his help, his limp, tricks to help them escape, trouble with his car?

8. The greedy doctor - a possible helper, his blackmailing Jessica and D Bartlett, being trapped in the lift, his being hanged?

9. The staff at the hospital, the screaming patient when Robyn was hiding in her room? Horror touches? The set-up for the filming - and its being persuasive acting? The real Elizabeth, her death in the house - with the uncle and aunt at witnesses?

10. The complexities of the plot, the web and tissue of lies?

11. A thriller and its satisfying edginess? Themes of greed, cruelty, ruthlessness and power? Yet the expected heroism?