DEADLY DECEPTIONS

US, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
Lisa Eilbacher, Matt Salinger, Mildred Natwick.
Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey.

Deadly Deceptions is quite an effective popular thriller, focusing on a mother and her newborn child, her depression, her alleged suicide and the disappearance of the child. The film was directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, an English director of thrillers who moved to the United States in the '70s and directed many telemovies.

The film shows the attitude of the husband as he tries to track down the truth about his wife's death and find the baby that he is convinced is alive. He is helped by a newspaperwoman.

The film has an atmosphere of realism blended with premonitions and dreams. Quite enjoyable of its kind.

1. Popular telemovie thriller?

2. Locations, the country town, the ordinary way of life? The insertion of the dream sequences and premonitions? Musical score?

3. The title, indication of themes?

4. Jack and Lori and their marriage, their child? His work, her life at home? His dreams, her depression? Love of the baby? The ordinary day? Jack at work, the phone calls, the expected visit of his parents? Going home? His wife's disappearance? The news of her death?

5. Lori, at home, the phone call, the prize, her indecision, her going? Phone call to her mother-in-law? The eagerness, the trip, the love of the baby? Her disappearance? Found hanging?

6. Jack and the effect on him? The experience of the Coroner's Court? The friendship of the journalist? His parents' support? Convinced that the baby was alive? The various investigations? Meeting Anne Ross again? The pursuit of information? Documents? The suicide note? The hint about the town where the phone call came from? Bank records, discovering the criminals, the fight with them? Their patron, the visit to her? The discovery that he had been fostered to her? Going to his parents, discovering the truth? Going to confront the woman, her plea to him, love for him? Killing herself? The finding of his son again?

7. The newspaper reporter, her interest in the case, sympathy? Pursuing clues, the discovery about the pens in rooms? Origin of the phone call? Working with Jack in the investigation? Discovering of the truth, the battle with the criminals? The happy ending?

8. Jack's parents, their interest in their son, their grandson? Their reticence? Their reluctance to tell the truth? The story of the pregnancy, the father being away, the fostering of the child, the cruelty of the foster father? Getting the baby back?

9. The police, their collaboration, the research?

10. The criminals, their charade with the winning of the prize? Smooth manner? Their buying their property? The confrontation? The fight and deaths?

11. The foster mother, answering the phone? Her chauffeur and his part in the crime? The story of her marriage, love for the baby, having to let it go? Paying the money for its kidnap? Confrontation with Jack, the truth, her love for him? Killing herself?

12. The details of the plot and the detection, the clerk in the motel and the information about the pens? Bank records? The reality and the combination of the dreams? Hearing the sound on the telephone?

13. How plausible the plot? How emotionally involving? Themes of family and of love?