BRAZEN
US, 2022, 94 minutes, Colour.
Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Malachy Weir, Emily Ullerup, Matthew Finlan, David Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Aaron Paul Stewart, Jack Armstrong.
Directed by Monika Mitchell.
The title is fairly straightforward – and evocative. And this murder mystery, serial killer drama, is fairly straightforward in its telling, nothing particularly subtle – and, if you have a suspect for the serial killer, you are probably correct.
The focus initially is on a school teacher in a Catholic high school, Kathleen, who has a secret section of her home where she goes on line for a fantasy site, a dominatrix calling herself Desiree. She has separated from her wealthy husband, wanting custody of her son. She calls her very successful novelist sister, Grace, Alyssa Milano, to visit. Then she is murdered.
Which means that the sister will become involved in the investigation. However, she has already met the policeman who lives next door, Ted, Sam Page, and the relationship is already in the offing.
Two more murders, a range of investigations and inquiries, the alibi of the husband of Kathleen and his motivations, interviewing the students where Kathleen taught literature, checking with the fantasy company about their clients. In the meantime, some agreeing and disagreeing between Grace and Ted with the chief inspector allowing Grace to have access to all the information.
An obvious ploy at the end, Grace impersonating her sister, tantalising the killer, his coming to attack her, explaining his motivations, and, in the US manner, being shot dead.
A pastime kind of thriller.
- Title? The tone? Grace and her novel, Brazen Virtue?
- The city settings, homes and streets, interiors, online fantasies sites, studios? Police precincts? School, church and funeral? The musical score?
- The introduction to Kathleen, as Desiree, going to school, her classes, popularity, the students and their response, her stoners with Rand?
- Grace, the reading, successful novel, going to visit Kathleen, some alienation, reconciliation? Seeing Ted next door, approaching, the date, returning home to find Kathleen dead?
- Investigations, Ted, his partner, the chief, clues, interrogations, interviews? Grace and her being present, wanting to help?
- Kath and husband, wealth, the custody case, her secret documentation, his alibi? The son? Present at the funeral and Grace hitting him?
- The clients, the management of the site, the deaths of the other two women, the survivor? Interview, the lead to Rand, his father protecting him, his sexual orientation, relationship with the cinematographer at the site?
- Jake, his senator mother, dominance, the conversation with Grace, offering the lead with the janitor?
- Billie, the janitor, knowing that Grace was Desiree, the discussions with Rand?
- The setup, Grace becoming Desiree? Jake, with his mother, the police suspicions, coming to the house?
- Grace as Deiree, Jake and his attack, explanation of his motivation, Kathleen as an alternate mother figure, a disappointing him, his killing the other women?
- The Catholic background, Catholic school, the funeral, the priest, meeting people?
- Standard pastime serial killer thriller?
