DEAD OF WINTER

US, 1986, 100 minutes, Colour.
Mary Steenburgen, Roddy McDowell?, William Russ, Jan Rubes.
Directed by Arthur Penn.

Dead of Winter is a stylish thriller, mystery directed by Arthur Pen (Bonnie and Clyde, Little Big Man). It is also a tour de force for Mary Steenbergen as the put-upon heroine as well as playing nasty twins. Jan Rubes is the mad psychiatrist who persecutes her with the assistance of an eccentric Roddy McDowell?. There is a mysterious prologue, a focus on the heroine, putting her in a situation of danger, persecution, the police not believing her, then her getting the upper hand. The film relies on atmosphere and characterisation - though it has its moments of menace and violence. Enjoyable of its kind.

1. Interesting thriller, murder mystery? Stylish thriller?

2. New York settings, upper New York State, the winter both inside and outside the house? Musical score?

3. The title, its ironies?

4. The prologue, the woman and the robbery, her being killed, her finger cut off?

5. Katie and the advertisement, her relationship with Rob, with her brother? Tensions? Going to the audition, waiting, chatting? The meeting with Mr Murray, her reading, his choice? The decision to go? Rob taking photos? The drive, the winter, the garage and the gift of the goldfish?

6. Dr Lewis, chair-ridden, a psychiatrist, his film interests, the set-up, pleasant, Mr Murray and his kindness, the hot milk? The video, the set-up and the performance?

7. Mr Murray taking the video to the sister, her believing it, the blackmail plan, the consequences?

8. Katie's suspicions? The development of her character, the drugs, the phone cut off, noticing the card in the fire, the injections, the cutting off of her finger, the terror, the dead body and the mouse, the phone calls? The police and their arriving, her hysteria and not believing her? the corpse on the bed? Atmosphere of menace?

9. Dr Lewis and Mr Murray, Evelyn's arrival, her haughty attitude, Katie's escape, the search outside, inside, the fight with Evelyn and taking her place? Her acting, the taunts of Mr Murray, her killing him? Lewis searching the house, the chase, his pursuing her upstairs, seeing her in the mirror, attacking the corpse, her stabbing him, his foot in the trap?

10. Rob and her brother and the police, the search, the goldfish - the rescue?

11. Katie and the experience, the effect on her?

12. The plausibility of the plot, the psychiatrist and his patient, his greed, the police, the attitude towards the two women? A satisfying thriller?