RADIO SILENCE
Canada, 2018, 90 minutes, Colour.
Georgina Haig, John Ralston, Carrie- Lynn Neales, Mark Senior, Alison Hossack, Sebastian Piggott, Erica Deutschman, Stefanie Nakamura.
Directed by Philippe Gagnon.
Radio Silence is a psychological thriller which has echoes of The Fisher King and the character played by Jeff Bridges and his impact on his listeners to his radio program.
Georgina Haig (born in Melbourne) plays a doctor who offers psychological help on radio. She sometimes has a hard manner, some thinking she talked down to those ringing in, urges, especially women, to “cut them loose� when they are the victims in a relationship. One night, a radio client is desperate, the doctor urging her to end her relationship – and she shoots herself on air.
The doctor retreats from her program for a year but, the failing radio station executives, persuade her to come on air again. The alleged victim calls in which complicates the emotional response of the doctor who is trying to be more humane. Then her producer is murdered. Later her former boyfriend, the building security guard, is also murdered. The police investigating are initially unsympathetic to the doctor.
When the suspects are all clear to the audience, the actual killer makes a speech almost indicating that she is the killer. For the unsuspecting, a twist. Those paying attention to the screenplay, the playing out of what has become obvious.
One of those enjoyable time-passers on television.
1. The title? Jill and her work on air, harsh manner, talking down to the listeners? The death? Her absence from the program and trying to rehabilitate herself?
2. A Canadian production, the Minneapolis setting, buildings, radio station, apartments, diners, the parking lot? The musical score?
3. The impact of Jill on air, hard and somewhat unsympathetic, her advice, cut them loose, Alexis and the shooting? Jill shock, retreating from radio for the year?
4. The executives, radio failing, need for money? Stuart, visiting Jill, asking her to come back on air? His manoeuvres? Her response? The initial hesitation on air? Her talking frankly to the listeners, remembering the past, the audience not hearing the shot? The plea for information? The phone call from Alexis? The ratings going up, callers, claiming to be Alexis?
5. The effect on Jill, a close friendship with Claire the producer, the audience seeing Claire murdered? Jill finding her, the blood? The detectives and their investigation, unsympathetic to Jill? Questions? The expert on tapes, able to highlight the tape being altered?
6. The interrogation of Li Chan, technician, wanting to be producer? The interrogation of Stuart, truth about his fabricating the tapes? The interrogation of Brett, security guard, the past relationship with Jill? His exit and entry from the car park?
7. Jill confronting Brett, his coming to the apartment, the relationship with Claire? His being shot?
8. Jill, talking with Daisy, Daisy seemingly sympathetic, her long speech about loss and grief, the death of her daughter? Almost admitting to the audience that she did it?
9. The final confrontation with Jill in the studio, the phone call, the truth about Brett and Alexis, her anger and grief? The gun aimed at Jill? Jill and the gun that Brett had given her, Daisy’s death? The police making allowances for the non-registration of the gun?
10. A pastime thriller?
