SECOND OPINION

Canada, 2018, 90 minutes, Colour.
Joanne Kelly, Shaun Benson, Genelle Williams.
Directed by Caroline Labreche.

Not a bad thriller, not quite what was expected.

The initial part of the film as audiences identifying with Ivy (Joanne Kelly) a workaholic who is setting up her own business with a friend. It emerges that she suffers from migraines and dizzy spells. Is persuaded to see a doctor, Mark (Shaun Benson) who is very sympathetic, helps with the diagnosis and a second opinion, that she has terminal brain tumour.

Mark also suggests that there are drugs from Europe not yet approved and she pays him substantial fees. She does not reveal to anyone her terminal illness.

The audience is alerted to Mark and his behaviour, suspicious, and so knows the truth before Ivy discovers the truth when a woman who is suing him and has attacked them in a restaurant is found dead. The tone of the film changes considerably with Mark menacing Ivy and her turning the tables on him.

1. A psychological thriller? Romance? Terminal illness? Fraud?

2. The city settings, the company and the office? Apartments? Doctor’s office? The contrast with parks, the open-air? The musical score?

3. The title, the overtones, Ivy and the death of her mother, her migraines and stress, being persuaded to go to the doctor, the diagnosis, the tests, his encouragement, medication, the expert with the second opinion (and the later revelation that he was a fraud)?

4. The film as a romance, the audience seeing everything from Ivy’s perspective? The hints at something wrong? The audience learning the truth before Ivy? The dramatic tension?

5. Ivy, middle-aged, workaholic, the setting up of the company, her friendship with Skyler and dependence on her? Migraines, dizzy spells? Stress? Being persuaded to go to the doctor, Mark and his welcoming, the explanations, encouragement of reality, the tests, the second opinion, the x-rays? The special medication, illegal, the cost, better to spend money rather than be dead with money?

6. Mark, the secretary and her devotion, suspicions? The woman suing? Discussions with his lawyer? His denials?

7. Ivy, recovering with the medication? Her being busy? Skyler, friendship, her husband and child, partnership in the work? The preparation for the presentation, Ivy’s nervousness, postponement, Skyler succeeding? The new office and building it up?

8. The attraction to Mark, pleasant, plausible, always encouraging? The meals, the sexual encounter? Mark and the story of his dead wife and her dying?

9. Ivy, going to the house, the other woman, the restaurant and the suing woman and her attack? Her being found dead? Interrogation by the police, marked persuading Ivy to give him an alibi? Her indebtedness to him?

10. The revelation of Mark as a fraud? His mental condition? Using the ad hoc using the addict to murder the woman? His later meeting him, stabbing him? His denials to the detective?

11. Ivy, the beginnings of suspicions, Mark and his declarations, always plausible? Her having the tablets analysed? The truth?

12. Ivy, the confrontation, Mark paralysing her? The preparation for her suicide? His being delayed by the detective? Ivy, crawling, using her arms to move, at the top of the stairs, Mike and his approach, her pushing him?

13. Ivy, recovery, mind over matter, the possibility for a holiday, her dependence on Skyler?

14. For going to visit Mark, his being paralysed, her leaving him alone?