AGENT OF DECEIT

US, 2019, 90 minutes, Colour.
Chelsea Ricketts, Michael Welch, Bryan Lillis, Charis Santana, Shari Belafonte.
Directed by Michael Feiffer.

This is a conventional thriller made for the television audience. It has an alternate title which makes the point, Who’s Stalking Me?

However, the title really is a giveaway as to who the stalker is. There are two main possibilities, the detective investigating a home invasion case or the photographer, previously in a relation with his co-worker who was attacked.

The film shows the attack, the victim’s questioning by the police, the female officer pointing out that the male officer is going against regulations doing the interrogation. Various clues are given as to his being the perpetrator. And, there are visual clues and body language to indicate that it is the co-worker.

As the film goes on, it becomes clear that it is the police officer, infatuated with the victim, getting her confidence, guarding her house, installing surveillance material which enables him to know what is going on. He also picks a local criminal to make him the seeming perpetrator and then sets up a situation where he shoots him.

Things come to a head when the detective goes to a company party, makes an attempt on one of the hostesses, makes the best friend suspicious – and then murders her.

There is a final twist at the end. The detective has stolen his victim’s camera and has doctored the vague photo of him to resemble her co-worker who is then taken away protesting.

In fact, the plot has been done many times before, the nice but deadly agent of deceit.