CLINICAL
US, 2017, 104 minutes, Colour.
Vinessa Shaw, Kevin Rahm, India Eisley, Aaron Stanford, Nestor Serrano, Wilmer Calderon, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, William Atherton.
Directed by Alistair Legrand.
Clinical indicates with its title that this is a film about psychology and analysis.
The central character is Jane, a psychologist, played by Vinessa Shaw. She has a successful practice and a reputation. She is seen in a session with a disturbed young woman who then attempts suicide in Jane’s presence. The film focuses on the psychological repercussions for Jane, an experience of trauma, herself going into therapy, working with a psychologist, played by veteran William Atherton. There is also background of Jane’s life and her relationship with her boyfriend, played by Aaron Stanford.
While the film starts out as psychological drama, especially with the young woman’s attempted suicide, it eventually moves into the conventions of the horror film.
A mysterious character, Alex, played by Kevin Rahm, is introduced, seeking some kind of therapy after his face being disfigured in a car accident. Jane takes him on, becomes involved, Alex a presence around the house, even sleepwalking. However, a number of sinister happenings in the house, more disturbance for Jane, the death of her boyfriend, the death of her therapist, an attack by the young woman whom Jane stabs.
Ultimately, it is revealed that Alex is the disturbed girl’s father, an abusive father, but wanting to wreak some kind of revenge on Jane.
Perhaps those who begin watching the film as a psychological thriller will be put off by the horror touches. But audiences who enjoy this kind of blend of psychology and horror will become involved.
- The psychology drama becoming more and more of a violent horror film?
- The title, the psychology background, Jane, her practice, her need for therapy? The deterioration?
- The general American setting, the town, homes, offices, institutions? The musical score?
- The introduction to Jane, her practice, personality, attentiveness to her clients, Nora, Nora’s outburst, attempted suicide? The consequences for Nora in the institution? The consequences for Jane? Therapy? Physical consequences, psychological consequences? Sleep?
- Jane, her relationship with Myles, his personality, together, social, his support? The dangers in the house, his discoveries of tampering with security, issues? His death?
- Terry, the psychologist, his working with Jane, the tapes of the sessions with Nora? Nora denouncing her father and his abuse? Nora stealing the drugs from Terry? Terry’s death?
- Alex, coming as a client, his story of the accident, disfigurement to his face? Jane accepting him, the sessions, confiding in him? His behaviour, sleepwalking?
- The turning of events against Jane, institution, need for therapy?
- Alex, behaviour, sinister, the behaviour from a horror film, the truth about who he was, Nora, Jane’s encounter with the distraught Nora stabbing her? The revelation as to who Alex is?
- The final confrontation between Jane and Alex? The unravelling of the mystery? Her survival?
