IN THE DARK

US, 2013, 89 minutes, Colour.

Elizabeth Rohm, Sam Page, Shannon Elizabeth, Elizabeth Peña, Patrick Muldoon, Aiden Turner, Richard Portnow.

Directed by Richard Gabai.

A television movie that has reminded many audiences of the Audrey Hepburn classic of the 1960s, Wait Until Dark. Both are fair and unfair comparison.

This is a more modestly ambitious film, an artist, Ali (Elizabeth Rohm) blinded in a car accident which is killed her husband and daughter. The hospital, in the person of Elizabeth Peña, recommend a carer, Jeffrey (Sam Page). Which leaders along to, perhaps, some romantic expectations.

But, this is a thriller, Ali coming to like Jeffrey and relying on him, but also making friends with the young woman across the street, Linda (Shannon Elizabeth) the two getting on well.

Which means then that it is romantic that in the perverse sense, Jeffrey becoming more and more obsessed with Ali, photographing her in bed and in the shower, contemplating this, is leading a lonely life, becoming more and more jealous of Linda. Which leads them to violence and disaster.

Not an ambitious film, but completing effectively what it sets out to do.

1. The title? Blindness? Coping with blindness, caring for the blind? Support? Dangers and melodrama?
2. The art setting, the Gallery, the drive home, the crash, the deaths, hospital, Ali, blind, arrangements for care, the introduction to Jeff, the background of her art, the studio, sculptures? The musical score?
3. Ali and her story, background, her husband, the drinking, the crash, love for her daughter, flashbacks and their memory? The photos? Six months, hospital, doctor why net, the discussions, arrangements for Jeff, her initial reaction?
4. Jeff, his presence, charm, background of his blind family, caring? Respectful for Halle? Taking her home, guiding her, arrangements in the house, his presence, going home, his becoming involved, Ali excepting him, her dependence on him?
5. The encounter with Linda, in the street, her living opposite, talking, befriending Ali, outings together, visits, discussions?
6. Jeff, observing, becoming more obsessive, jealous of Linda, hostile to her? His own obsessions, finding the camera, photographing hourly in bed, the shower, is continually watching the film is?
7. The visit of doctor why net, her encouragement, ideas for Jeff as a carer?
8. The meal, Linda arriving, the casserole and the pot, the tension in the meal, into going to the bathroom, seeing the photos, Jeff’s photo instead of Marley’s husband? Her being uncomfortable, going home?
9. Jeff, controlling hourly, the drugs? Going to Linda’s apartment, the pot, the confrontation, killing her?
10. Hourly going to the apartment, discovering Linda’s body, the police, the detective, Jeff and his explanations of himself?
11. Hourly, more suspicious, the photo and the substitution, the pills, the dish and her recognising it was not Linda’s pot… Exposing Jeff?
12. A variation on the Wait until Dark, domestic, obsessive carer, television movie entertainment?