DEAD WRONG

Canada, 1983, 93 minutes, Colour.
Britt Eklund.
Directed by Len Kowalewich.

Dead Wrong is a small-budget Canadian thriller, focusing on drug-running from Latin America to Canada. It also highlights on the police and the expensive strategies to trap drug-runners.

The film imports Britt Eklund as a glamorous policewoman, trying to look less than her age. There is attractive scenery in Central America, on the sea, in Canada. The film offers familiar material and characterisations but is as effectively done as any telemovie or television episode.

1. Entertaining thriller, drugs and police?

2. Canadian settings, Central America, the tropics, the sea? Songs? Musical score?

3. The title, the original title focusing on drugs? Murder?

4. Sean, his friendship with Mike Brady, in need of money, persuaded to ferry the drugs? The reaction of his girlfriend? Central America, the connections, fitting the boat? Discussion with Jones and his henchmen? Sailing, the bug on the boat? Being trapped? The clash with Ramon and his death? The encounter with Priscilla, her advances, taking her on board? Brady's suspicions? His not knowing about the cocaine? Sailing, the storm, attracted to Priscilla, in love? Her warnings? Getting near Canada, the attack, Priscilla shooting? The final arrival, Priscilla urging him away, putting the bug on the cocaine? Her love for him - the final confrontation, with his girlfriend, Priscilla shooting him? The futility of his life?

5. Mike Brady, drug connections, conning his friend? Checking, on the boat, with Priscilla? The final attack, his militia, the arrest?

6. Fred Foster, his boss, the police, the set-up, tracking Sean, connection with Jones and deals, the bug on the boat, Foster going into the action, calling in Penny? Getting information from her? The Coast Guard's surveillance? The cost of the manoeuvres, calling in the military? Final confrontation? The suspicions of his boss? The television interviews? Achievement?

7. Priscilla, effective cop, friendship with Foster, his proposal? Going on the mission, her story, ingratiating herself with Sean, on the boat, finding the cocaine? Giving the information to Foster? Falling in love, the work, the storm, the lyrical scenes, shooting the attackers, trying to save him? The gun and her final shooting?

8. The world of drug dealers, Jones and his double connections, playing one off against the other, Ramon and the attack, his death?

9. The police, the militia, the media?

10. Contemporary drug story - commonplace for the '80s, spirited adventure, romance?