THE ENTITLED
Canada, 2011, 91 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Zegers, Victor Garber, Laura Vandevoort, Dustin Milligan, Devon Bostick, Ray Liotta, Stephen Mc Hattie, Tatiana Masiany, Anthony Ulc.
Directed by Aaron Woodley.
The Entitled is an offbeat psychological drama with twists and violence.
Kevin Zegers portrays a young student who is upset about his mother’s health and property, upset at his father’s absence, finding himself unable to get a job though he is intelligent.He concocts a master plan to abduct three fellow students whom he considers arrogant and snobs. He enlists the help of two psychopathic friends and demands a ransom from the fathers of the three students abducted.
There are scenes with the students, blindfolded, one of them killed by the psychopathic girl. There are scenes with the three fathers, finding the money, one arriving late, one having difficulties in finding the money.
What finally emerges is a master plan for the young student to get the money and not be detected at all while getting rid of his accomplices.
An interesting, if alarming, portrait of a sociopathic young man. The film also has a strong cast for the three fathers.
1. Thriller? Psychological? Twists?
2. The title, the focus on wealthy students and families, on poorer resentful students?
3. The campus, the students, campus life, outsiders, homes, lifestyle? The musical score?
4. Paul as the focus, his character, background, his mother and her hardships, the bank, his father absent (and the later revelation that he was the butler)? His attitude, seemingly normal, applying for jobs, being turned down, his research in the library? His not being normal? His association with Jenna and Dean? As leader? Fomenting their antisocial attitudes? His powers of persuasion?
5. The wealthy students, snobbish, attitudes towards Paul? The contrast with Jenna and Dean, their being outsiders, self-absorbed, aggressive? Motivations?
6. The abduction plan, the three students, the blindfold, the basement, in a family house? The students, tied and taunted, especially by Jenna?
7. Dean and his attitude, antisocial? Jenna, Goth clothing, behaviour, aggression? Paul and his relationship with each, the buildup, Jenna and her killing the hostage, Paul and his reaction? The scene at the service station, Jenna and the attack by Nick and his strangling her to death, Dean, aggressive, the gun, not having blanks, real bullets? Paul killing him?
8. The plan, the fathers, their meeting, their characters, attitudes towards their children? The business backgrounds, finance, difficulties? Bob, his being late, the two keeping the information from him? His dead child?
9. The phone calls, handling the situation, Bob’s son and his death, the fathers’ fears, getting the money, their plan?
10. The two hostages, getting loose, the escape, finding themselves in the house, the puzzle, hiding?
11. The pursuit, Jenna and Dean and their violence, the attack? Paul and their deaths?
12. Paul, his planning, covering himself completely, the blame on Jenna and Dean, his voice never having been heard? His coming to the house, his father as the butler?
13. Paul, constructing the whole affair, keeping his cover, the phone calls, the police, his innocence? The aftermath?
