MIND GAMES
US, 1996, 90 minutes.
Lindsay Frost, Jayne Brook, Kyle Secor.
Directed by Jan Egelson.
Mind Games is a telemovie which focuses on psychological malpractice. The film focuses on a couple, he an architect, she a successful businesswoman, and their problems with their nine-year-old son. In going to a psychologist, they encounter Karen who, it eventuates, suffers from a traumatic childhood and is bent on destruction. As the film opens, we see a young man driven to his fulfilment of his death wish by her.
Karen is plausible (except that she doesn't expect that she will be found out). She sets about to destroy the family, insinuating lies and being seductive. There is a final confrontation - which ends rather briefly with her self-destruction.
The film is interesting in its dramatisation of a psychologist breaking the barriers and norms of the profession and the destructive effect.
1.Impact of the film? Telemovie for the home audience? Family, dysfunction, the disruption by the psychologist?
2.The American family, Chicago setting, the successful family? The psychologist's offices, videoing interviews? An atmosphere of affluence? The city? Musical score?
3.The title and its focus on Karen and the impact of her father's behaviour to her? Her destruction of her family? Her destruction of her clients and the mind games she played?
4.Themes of psychologists and professional ethics? Families, secrets, the potential for destruction? Dysfunctional children and therapy? The final theme of love and a united family?
5.The portrait of Karen, glamorous psychologist, the support of her staff - yet her caustic treatment of them? The opening with the young man phoning her desperately and his being run over? The later visualising of the tapes and her seduction and destruction? Her watching Doug and Hannah, insinuating herself into their case? The scene where she made them embrace? Kyle looking at her? Her forcing Hannah to tell her secret? Seduction of Doug? Her telling lies to Luke? Her being plausible with each of the family members, with the staff? The confrontation with her sister, the story of the truth, her wanting to take Amy, the crash and her death?
6.The focus on Hannah and Doug? Hannah and her success, the overseas shops, staff, the videos? Doug and his being an architect, the failure of his company and the aftermath? The bond between the two, their concern about Luke? Love for Amy? Their going to the psychologist? Karen's criticism of Hannah's lack of interest and blaming her? Their response, their concern? Hannah being forced to tell Doug about the affair and the aftermath? Doug and his hugging Hannah, the dinner, his not wanting to continue, the phone call to Karen, the seduction - and his punishing Hannah? The disruption, Hannah's return home, the truth? Karen telling Hannah that Doug was sexually abusing Amy? Her trying to make an official complaint, the support of the staff? Her visit to Karen's apartment, seeing the video? Getting the children away, the reconciliation? Karen taking Amy and their saving her life? The aftermath, the family together, a future?
7.Luke, his problems, sensing his parents' secrets? The cigarette lighter, burning the house? The reaction to Karen's confidences, his expecting his parents to divorce? Amy, overhearing the talk between her parents? Being present when Luke lit the fire? The aftermath and the therapy?
8.The staff and their support of Hannah, the success of the company, shops, international development?
9.The staff at the clinic, the doctor and his support of Karen?
10.The plausibility of the plot? Heightened for dramatic effect? The critique of psychologists and their need for responsibility? The family themes?
