IF THERE BE THORNS

US, 2015, 100 minutes, Colour.
Heather Graham, Rachael Caparni, Jason Lewis, Mason Cook, Mackenzie Grey, Jedadiah Joe Goodacre, Emily Tennant.
Directed by Nancy Savoca.


This is the third film made for television of novels by V.C. Andrews. They began with Flowers in the Attic, continued with Petals on the Wind. There is a final film Seeds of Yesterday.

This is a story about Chris and Cathy, the two children of Corinne, their self-centred mother who agreed that they should stay in the attic of three years, dominated by her mother. Petals on the Wind tells the story of Chris and Cathy as young adults, Cathy having children, one with her ballet-dancing husband and then with her mother’s husband. She marries Chris and they settle down to a secret life.

This film shows them with their two children, Jory the son of the ballet dancer, and Bart the son of her grandmother’s husband. All seems normal until, Corinne gets out of institution buys the dilapidated house next door and moves in with John Amos, her servant. She wants to reclaim the grandchildren, especially Bart, an introspective young boy who collect bugs. He is indoctrinated in a narrow religious vein by John Amos who gives him his fanatical grandfather’s diary.

The two children discover their parents’ secret, and everything comes to a head when Cathy confronts Corinne and John Amos intervenes, setting fire to a barn, but Chris rescues Cathy, while Corinne dies. Bart is still sinister and ready for the next episode.

1. The novels of V.C. Andrews? Film version in the 1980s? The four films made television?

2. Television film, treatment of serious subjects, the family, marriage, children, adult, seduction, incest? Dark secrets?

3. Locations, the town, home, school, ballet class, the hospital? The old house, dilapidated renewed? Barns and attics? atmospheric score?

4. Continuity with the previous chapters of the story? Chris The background, in the attic, love for each other, then marriage? Jory and his ballet dancing father? Cathy’s seduction of Corinne’s husband? The happy family, the years passing, preserving secrets? The little girl, Cindy,wanting to adopt her?

5. Bart, his being bullied at school, Jory and his support, Jory and his relationship with Melodie? The situation at home?

6. The visits to the old house, Bart and his wound from the nail, its festering, inflamed, his having to go to hospital?

7. Corinne, buying the house, John Amos as her servant, the lavish reconstruction, Bart and his visit, her being nice to him, his returning, the gift of the python, the gift of the bow and arrow? The effect of him, John Amos telling him about his ancestor, Malcolm, the righteous quotes, giving him the diary, instilling a religious and puritanical attitude into him, sins and the Devil’s Spawn? The visualising of Malcolm’s diary, mad and fanatic? John Amos quoting the grandmother’s religious attitudes?

8. Bart, his age, behaviour, introspective, collection of bugs, his wanting a python, wanting a bow and arrow? Watching Jory with Melodie in the attic, seeing his mother and father and their sexual activity, his reaction? Later criticising Jory and holding it against him?

9. The decision for adoption, the girl’s mother dying, the family, Cathy and her delight, Bart and but his trying to drown the girl?

10. His going to hospital? The tests? Psychiatrist? The medication, suspecting schizophrenia? His personality, questions about Malcolm? His saying that Malcolm had gone, his return home

11. Jory, telling Melodie the truth? Her being unable to accept the truth and her later apology?

12. The ballet classes, the little girls, the recital, Corinne appearing, Cathy her fall from the stage, the injuries?

13. The arrival of marisha, grandmother, dominating, blackmail Chris? Wanting to take Jory? The confrontation and her being sent away the snobbish attitude towards Emily and her place in the house?

14. Bart, practising with his bow and arrow, John’s denunciations the issues about his real father about his mother and Corinne’s husband?

15. John Amos, denouncing Corinne, Cathy and the confrontation with her mother, some reconciliation, John Amos’ attack, hitting and imprisoning them?

16. Chris, able to save Cathy, watching the fire, Corinne screaming?


17. Jory, reconciled with his parents, understand from Melodie – except for the sinister look from Bart?