UNLAWFUL ENTRY

US, 1992, 106 minutes, Colour.
Kurt Russell, Madeleine Stowe, Ray Liotta, Roger E.Mosley.
Directed by Jonathan Kaplan.

Unlawful Entry is one of several films dealing with urban terror in the early 90s (like Barbet Schroeder’s Single White Female) in New York. This is familiar material but is quite effectively as a violent thriller, questioning standards of right and wrong, good and evil and who has the right to administer justice. Kurt Russell and Madeleine Stowe are affluent Los Angeles citizens whose house is burglared But the earnest cop who investigates the burglary becomes obsessed with them and almost destroys them. The cop is played by Ray Liotta, more than credibly manic, as he was in such films as Something Wild and Goodfellas. (A more genial Liotta can be seen in Dominic and Eugene.)

City audiences can identify with the harassed couple - and the tensions builds in them as in the audience. This is an effective thriller made out of an ugly experience and was directed by Jonathan Kaplan, whose thrillers include White Line Fever and the Accused and who is made genial films as Mr Billion, Heart Like a Wheel and Immediate Family.

1. Quality thriller? Invasion of homes and privacy? Fatal sexual attractions? Jealousy and violence? The role of the law, justice and violence?

2. The title and its references to burglary as well as to Pete's invasion of Michael and Karen's life and privacy? The real and symbolic unlawful entry?

3. The wide screen photography, Los Angeles wealthy homes, streets? The police precincts? The ugly world of the Los Angeles criminals? The contrast between the worlds - and Pete taking mike on a tour of this world? The musical score?

4. Middle America and its affluence? The urban tension of the 90s and riots in cities like Los Angeles? Michael and Karen, their life style, their marriage, relationship, their wealthy home, jobs? Tensions?

5. The impact of the burglary and its atmosphere? The intruder and the knife to Karen? Michael's reaction? Calling the police and the escape of the burglar?

6. The role of the Los Angeles police? Pete Davis and his partner, helpful, concerned, discussing alarms and security? Coming around - and the growing friendship of Pete with Michael and Karen?

7. Michael and the friendship with Pete, the invitation to go on the police round? Michael's motivations - violence, the law? Going down town, seeing his wife's attacker? Pete's brutality - the invitation from Mike to be violent and his refusal? Mike's reaction to Pete? Karen and her not understanding, wary of Michael? Attracted by Pete? Apologies to Pete for Mike's behaviour?

8. Pete and the growing sense of menace? In himself, unbalanced, evil? Karen and his obsession, prying, sexual attraction? Mike and the party, Michael with the monied people, the plans for the building? Pete's intrusion and Mike ousting him? His being asked to leave, Karen's reaction?

9. Pete and the growing control over Mike and Karen, using police tools, the credit cards and their being stopped, Mike's experience of the refusal of credit? His bewilderment? His car clamped? The alarm going off in the night and the police coming? Mike's reaction, wanting to buy Pete off? Desperation for Pete's partner?

10. Pete and his anti-social behaviour, with the women, prostitutes, sex and violence?

11. Col and his work as Pete's partner, going to the stakeout, the drama of the police work - and Peter murdering him in cold blood and framing it?

12. The cocaine planted in the household? Karen and her disillusionment with Pete, the gun, Peter's attempted rape? Mike and the final confrontation? Legitimate violence or not?

13. A portrait of the ills of society, violence and guns, the law and abuse of the law, human nature, corruption, self assertion and protection?