THE DRIFTER
US, 1988, 90 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Bottoms, Kim Delaney, Miles O'Keefe.
Directed by Larry Brand.
The Drifter is a psychological thriller of sex and violence. It was written and directed by Larry Brand (Backfire).
The material is conventional, however it is treated at times in a sensationalist way. Kim Delaney is Julia, who picks up a drifter played by Miles O'Keefe (Tarzan the Ape Man). They have a torrid sexual encounter. She then returns to her husband, Arthur, played by Timothy Bottoms.
There are complications with private detectives, the police, the drifter. There is a final confrontation and a sadistic menacing of Julia by a maniacal private detective. This is one of those films which seems to relish the torment of the heroine - even though, ultimately, she is vindicated.
Interesting in its way - but too sensationalist compared with other films of its kind.
1. Action thriller? Psychological drama? Fidelity and infidelity?
2. The American road, the American city, homes? Stunts and special effects? Musical score?
3. The title, the reference to the drifter, his influence on the heroine, the repercussions of their affair? His return at the end and saving the heroine?
4. Julia, on the road, the breakdown of the car, the encounter with Trey? His helping her, refusing to pick him up, changing her mind, the affair in the motel? Her skills in design? Her return to Arthur? Her relationship with him? Her business life, social life? The police? Arthur and his hiring the detective? His death? The final violent confrontation, her terror? The arrival of the drifter, his being shot? His saving her and killing the intruder? The arrival of the police? Her future?
5. The drifter, on the road, helping Julia, the pick-up, the affair, the influence in her life, Arthur's reaction, the detective? His reappearance, injury, saving her?
6. Arthur, the loving husband, his relationship with Julia? The conventions? The irony of his hiring the detective? His death?
7. The police, their support? Arriving at the end?
8. The ugly, violent confrontation with the madman, his background, his taunting Julia, his abusive and foul language, the sadistic violence, her turning the tables on him, his weakness, fright, his death?
9. A psychological thriller - with sadistic overtones?
