TOTEM

US, 2017, 89 minutes, Colour.
Kerris Dorsey, James Tupper, Ahna O' Reilly, Lisa Mc Hugh, Braeden Lemasters, Lawrence Pressman.
Directed by Marcel Sarmiento.

Totem begins as a family story. The focus is on a young girl, teenager, Kellie, who excels at athletics, feted by her father and the audience learning that her mother is dead. The father tries to take an opportunity to tell the family that he is interested in a younger woman and that she should become part of the household. It is clear that Kellie is not in favour although she tries to give some good impressions. The younger daughter, Abby, very quickly adapts to the new stepmother. There is also a boyfriend involved who comes to visit Kellie.

There are some ambiguous comments about the mother and her death. And there are complications with the mother's necklace, the grandfather visiting, mysterious powers and the boyfriend investigating the nature of totems.

Then, the film become something of a horror film, Kellie not at all the person that we originally thought she was, the mother also not being the same as intimated – with the result of her ghostly presence, seemingly attacking the stepmother, but...

A brief family film with an interesting horror/ghost twist.

1. A family story becoming a horror story? The credibility of the transition?

2. An American story, an American family, the tragedy of the death of the wife and mother? The opening, the focus on Kellie, athletic achievement, the intensity? Her award, her father’s congratulations and support, the boyfriend?

3. The American town, the action taking place within the house, the various rooms and corridors? The grounds? The musical score?

4. The family together, the meals, chat, cooking? The story of the death of the mother, her absence? Grief?

5. The father, his age, experience, the death of his wife, their having had troubles? His meeting Robyn, her age and difference, wanting her to become part of the family? Try to persuade his daughters?

6. Kellie, 17, at school, her place in the house, her devotion to her father, care for her sister? Happy as the little sister, not remembering her mother?

7. Robin, pleasant, her coming to the home, her being careful, cooking, Kellie offering to cook for Abby, Abby liking Robin's food? The father and his joining in? Being careful with the discussions, the memories?

8. Todd, coming to the house, attraction towards Kellie, Abby upset, Todd coming out of her room and Kellie being grounded?

9. Abby and her talking to her imaginary friend, Robyn encouraging her, joining hands, hoping that the mother was somehow or other present?

10. The transition to the horror style, faces in the mirror, ghostly presence? The seeming threat?

11. The various reactions, the father-in-law and his visit? The garage sale, the necklace, its significance, the father-in-law and his reaction, Kellie wearing it?

12. The research on totems, Todd and his information, visiting Kellie? The powers?

13. The transition in the plot, Kellie being the villain, her wanting control, antagonism towards her mother, getting Abby to hide, the confrontation with Robyn, the chase, death in the bath? The confrontation with Todd, hitting him with the trophy? The reaction of her father, Abby revealing that she had to hide, the attack on the father, tying him up?

14. Kellie, her madness, wanting everything to be as it was, the Freudian dimensions to her attraction to her father? The significance of her mother's ring not present when she
died and Robyn finding the ring at the base of the trophy?

15. The mother and her presence, seemingly sinister, benign, bringing Robin to life?

16. Kellie, being destroyed? The aftermath, the caravan, the family together yet Abby still talking to her imaginary friend?

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