RESTRAINT

Australia/UK, 2008, minutes, Colour.
Travis Fimmel, Stephen Moyer, Teresa Palmer.
Directed by David Denham.

Restraint is an Australian thriller, mainly a three-hander, as a young man rescues his girlfriend from a club and goes on the run. He is quick on the draw and shoots an attendant at a service station. The couple then find an old mansion, rather Gothic in its interiors, and the owner who is agoraphobic.

Most of the film is cat and mouse interactions with the three, the forcing of the agoraphobic man outside and the effect on him, the changing sympathies of the girl, the aggression of the young man on the run. There are some interruptions from outside, especially the police wanting to come in. The young woman has to pretend to be the agoraphobic man’s fiancee in order to go to the bank and cash a cheque.

There are a couple of twists, especially in the character of the agoraphobic man and his history and the lies that he has told to his captors.

Travis Fimmel was a model who went to the United States and became an actor, featuring in the television series The Vikings. Teresa Palmer also went to the United States but has made a number of films at home, including Wish You Were Here. Stephen Moyer is a British actor best known for his continuing role in the American series True Blood.

1. Australian production, cast? The contemporary crime thriller set in a Gothic building?

2. The locations, the Australian town, the countryside, the mansion? The contrast with cars, service stations, the bank? The interiors of the house, baroque, sinister, the rooms, the basement? The musical score?

3. The title, its variety of meanings as supplied to each of the characters, Ron and his lack of restraint and the consequences, Dale and her way of life, dependent on Ron, dependent on Andrew, who finally been trapped in the building? Andrew, his agoraphobia, staying within the house, restrained by the intruders, the dominance of his father in the past, his breaking out of the restraints, his murderous nature, his sadistic imprisonment of Dale?

4. The credibility of the basic situation, Dale and her past, in the strip club, the domination of her boss, the relationship with Ron, his killing them boss? Their going on the run? At the service station, not having enough money, the sexual encounter with the owner, Ron and his confronting him, shooting him? Their escape, finding the mansion?

5. The film’s development of the character of Ron, his background, self-image, his later telling his story to and true? Behaviour is a thug, love for Dale, rescuing her? Violent and lack of control? Shooting people and willing to do so? His behaviour in the house, dominating Andrew, getting wanting yet wanting some kind of conversation? The relationship with Dale and yet using her to get information on money? The arguments, the retorts? His response to Andrews threats? Going to the basement with Andrew for the document, his being shut in comic emerging, the pursuit of Andrew? Dale’s return, his giving her a choice, her choosing Andrew, his putting her in the car, the ignition on, daring Andrew to come out of the house and save her? And returning on him, attacking him, Dale killing him?

6. Dale, her past, in the club, her being rescued, had not wanting people killed, her offer to the owner of the service station, the sexual encounter? Going to the house, dealing with a Ron? His maiden her declare that she loved him? Her interest in Andrew, his sympathy, the planned for the money, his making her look like his fiancee, her signature, going to the bank, address, the bank manager recognising her, the return, the police, her handling the situation? The sexual encounter with Andrew? At Ron’s urging to get information? Her own willingness? Her having to make a choice between Ron and Andrew, Ron’s attempt to kill her, Andrews rescue, who discovering the truth, her being restrained in the house by Andrew?

7. Andrew, the first meeting, the agoraphobia? His allowing Ron and Dale into the house? His being subdued? His telling his story, killing his father in the body buried? Run believing him? The story of the fiancee? Her going abroad? His wealth? The issue of money, organising Dale to go to the bank? His sexual encounter with her? His agility within the house, the chasers, the chasers, the subduing Ron, yet not totally? His being dared to go out of the house? His going to rescue Dale, attacking Ron? His confining Dale to the house? His madness?

8. At the service station, the man, the money, his demands, succumbing to Dale’s seductive suggestion, his death?

9. The police, coming to the house, the questions, Andrew and the plausibility of is not coming out, or letting them in?

10. A satisfactory three-hander in the confinements of the house?