AN AMISH MURDER

US, 2013, 85 minutes, Colour.

Neve Campbell, Noam Jenkins, Jilon Van Over, Christian Campbell, C. Thomas Howell.

Directed by Stephen Gillenhaal.

While the title does not tell all, in does tell us succinctly the focus of this crime drama.

The setting is Amish territory, some glimpses of the Amish, indications of their way of life, their attitude towards the growth of technology, their sense of community, working the land, coexisting with the 20^th and 21^st-century.

Neve Campbell plays Katie, the chief of police in the town in which she grew up and, as gradually revealed, she was from an Amish family, assaulted when young, her father killing her assailant and burying him, her leaving the community, her potential fiance shocked and grieving. She has returned to the town but is ignored by the community.

And then there is a murder, an Amish girl. Indications of a serial killer. The film is strong on police procedure, Katie and her skills, the range of people who work for and with her, the local police authority (C.Thomas Howell), an interfering Mayor whose daughter is killed, the calling in of an expert in profiling much to Katie’s objection.

The film proceeds with the investigation, interviews with the Amish, Katie with her brother and former fiance, the Amish Bishop. Katie has her secrets but gradually reveals them to the profiler who is suffering from PTSD.

There is some drama and melodrama in the revelations, the final confrontation with the villain.

One might say nothing particularly special, except the Amish setting, the kind of routine crime drama that audiences enjoy.

1. The Amish community, traditions, isolation, beliefs, attitude towards those who leave? The situation for the murder? The victim?
2. The town, the Amish community, police precincts, homes, locations? The musical score?
3. Katie, police chief, gradual revelation of her past history, originally Amish, the experience of the rape, her father killing the assailant and burying him, the reaction of her brother, her leaving, 17 years, studies, work as a detective, application for the job? Seeing her jogging, passing the Amish, their observing but not looking?
4. The victim, Katie, the staff at the police station, the policeman with the cows blocking the road and finding the body, the various personnel and their jobs? The mayor, the political issues, his interventions, the death of his daughter, his grief?
5. Nathan Detrick, the local police, his cooperation? His work, Katie being fired, his sympathy? Audience suspicions of him? Gradual revelation of his background, his years in Alaska, his home, the search for information about the abandoned house? The confrontation with atie, drugging her, tying her up, his intentions, the bath?
6. The calling in of the outside expert, Katie’s reaction, John Tomasetti, casual, gradual revelation of his story, crime investigations, the revenge on his wife and family, PTSD, his profiling, the past history of the serial killer, the documents, the Roman numerals, his discounting the copycat? Working with Katie, gradual revelations of their stories, the night together, there needs?
7. The Amish, the refusal to talk to Katie during the investigations, the role of the Bishop? Katie’s brother, his wife, her going to talk with him, the burial of the body? The wife sending the note to the Bishop, stating that her brother always loved Katie, his searching for her?
8. Lucas, the past relationship with Katie, her leaving, leaving no explanation? Her apology, seeking his help with the Bishop?
9. The investigation on Detrick, his time in Alaska, the serial killer? The encounter with Katie, his explanations, random motivation?
10. The police, the attack, Katie rescued, Detrick taken? Her being reinstated? And future bonds with the Amish?