THE DEVIL’S TEARDROP

US/Canada, 2010, 89 minutes, Colour.
Tom Everett Scott, Natasha Henstridge, Rena Sofer, Gabriel Hogan.
Directed by Norma Bailey.

The Devil’s Teardrop is based on a novel by celebrated crime and detection writer Jeffrey Deaver. His central character of many novels, Lincoln Rhyme, was portrayed in the 1999 The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Another film was made of one of his novels, Dead Silence, 1997 with James Garner and Marlee Matlin, based on A Maiden’s Grave.

Deaver’s novels are very complex. However, screenwriter Ron Hutchinson has got to the core of the mystery from Deaver’s novel for this brief telemovie. The key elements are there and the detection as well as the central characters. However, while the novel also placed a lot of emphasis on the handwriting expert and his family and trauma, the film spends a great deal of its time on this issue, making it a more family friendly murder mystery than many others.

Tom Everett Scott is genial and conscientious in the central role. Natasha Henstridge is a hard and glamorous FBI agent.

Canadian locations were used for the Washington DC setting of the film.

1. An entertaining mystery? Crime and detection? Blended with family themes?

2. The Washington DC settings? The visual presentation of Washington at the opening, the tourist and scenic landmarks? The background of the FBI, ordinary homes, warehouses and deserted factories? The musical score?

3. The work of Jeffrey Deaver, his status as a crime writer? Adaptation of his novel?

4. The initial crime, Union Station, The Digger and his massacre of people, indiscriminate? The transition to the tape played on the phone? The threats and the explanation for the FBI? The sudden death of this man in a hit and run accident?

5. Margaret Lukas, her work at the FBI? Her own personal experiences, the loss of her son and husband? Transfer to Washington DC? Strong minded? Taking responsibilities? Cage as her second-in-charge? His suggestion for Parker Kincaid for the investigation? Their visit to Kincaid, his refusal? Margaret Lukas and determining that he would change his mind?

6. Parker Kincaid and his family, with the children? His expertise in handwriting? Working on the Thomas Jefferson letter? His daughter asking about payment? His daughter and her age? His son – and the flashback explaining his trauma, the criminal coming to the house, his father shooting the criminal, terrorising the son? The psychological treatment? The father trying to help his son overcome the trauma? The reasons for his refusal of taking on the job?

7. Joan, her visit, presents for the children? The separation from Parker? Her new husband? Her wanting custody of the children? The threats? Parker and his contacting his lawyer? The meeting of the two parties? The demands, the letters of recommendation? Joan and her overcoming her alcoholism? The need for an official to visit the house? The woman coming in the morning after the murder? Her talking with the children, getting a good impression? Joan’s arrival, with gifts? Her overhearing the official with the boy? Listening to the daughter talking to her hamster – and the realisation that she should not get custody? Her tears, her handing over to Parker?

8. The focus on The Digger, in his room? The setup and his taking orders? The massacre and the time limit? The detection and thinking that the venue would be a hotel? The fact that it was a theatre?

9. Parker and his changing his mind, coming in, wanting anonymity? His clues from the writing, the devil’s teardrop? The nature of the paper, the contents and the physical nature of the compounds on the paper? The computer program, finding where the location was? Going, entering, the search, for the paper, the discovery of the bomb, escape on time?

10. Gage and his being injured in the explosion? Hardy coming in to help? His going to Parker’s house, looking at the documents, writing a report – and the irony of his writing? Parker discovering the devil’s teardrop? Warning Margaret, Parker and his scheme about getting the money, because The Digger was allegedly dead, the money going into custody? Hardy and his entry, shooting the guards, taking the money? The confrontation with Margaret, the shootout? His pride in his plan?

11. The Digger, Hardy’s friend, the plate in his head, taking orders?

12. The plans for the Fourth of July, the fireworks, the agents all in readiness? The irony of The Digger going to Parker’s house? The fight, his death?

13. The next morning, Parker awakening, the social worker arriving – and the house all cleaned? Margaret’s arrival, the explanation? Joan’s arrival?

14. Margaret and her friendship with the children, with the daughter? Her staying the day – and the television ending with the kiss?