THE STRAY

US, 1999, 95 minutes, Colour.
Michael Madsen, Angie Everhart, Stephen Lyszansky.
Directed by Kevin Mock.

The Stray is a straight-to-video kind of film. It begins with police surveillance, a chase and then moves into the story of a psychotic man stalking a wealthy woman. Needless to say, there are struggles, people not believing each other, violent interludes, and a final revelation of why the madman was stalking the wealthy woman in revenge. Themes are indicated by a rather gentle credits sequence with antiques and a music box playing. However, the film is in the general vein of police and thriller action.

1. The popularity of this kind of film? Video fare? The popular ingredients - and the predictability?

2. The Los Angeles settings, homes, wealth, the luxurious restaurant, overlooking the ocean? The streets, the beaches, the highways? The authentic feel of Los Angeles? The musical score?

3. The title, Kate's story about the dog and its surviving? Her hitting Jil and taking him in? And his biting the hand that fed him?

4. The opening, the mask and the robbery, the drug deals? Ben and his team, the public holiday, the Fourth of July, the decision to chase, shoot-out? Their being reprimanded for recklessness? Ben, his career, difficulty in working with a team, being told off by the boss? His suspension?

5. His relationship with Kate, opposite types, the incident with Jil, his being opposed to Jil's coming in, the hospital sequence, his suspicions, articulating them - and being correct? The continued investigation of the robbery? His doing manual work around the house with Jil? Especially the beehive (featured in the opening credits)? The violence, the death of his partners, his confrontations, Kate and her rejecting him, the final confrontation with Jil? A future with Kate?

6. Kate, her wealth, her restaurant, good relationship with her staff, the food critic, bringing the columnist - and Jil's outburst during their visit? Her hitting Jil, her compassion, taking him in, making him feel at home? Her reaction to him in the house, standing naked shaving, her awkwardness? Ben's suspicions? Ordering them both out? Jil's transformation, his working in the kitchen, the final blow-up, the recklessness and destruction? His cruelty towards the pursuing police? His henchmen? The final confrontation, the shooting, his explaining the situation of his family, Kate's family? The symbol of the music box and his fixing it and giving it to her as a gift? His insanity?

7. Jil, the hit and the road, in hospital, his performance, gratitude towards Kate, being instructed by Ben about jobs around the house, his volunteering, his pleasantness with Kate? His transforming himself, being provocative? Referring to the sex life? His being ousted? His henchmen, their violence, the deaths of the police and the burning of the shed? The final confrontation in the kitchen, his explanation, his death?

8. The combination of police action, stalking thriller, romance?