SERVANTS OF TWILIGHT
US, 1991, 95 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Greenwood, Jarrett Lennon, Belinda Bauer, Grace Zabriskie, Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe.
Directed by Jeffrey Obrow.
Servants of Twilight is based on a popular novel by Dean R. Koontz, Twilight. This film, as with many other versions of Koontz’s novels in the 80s and 90s, is merely a dramatisation of a synopsis. Later, Koontz was to be better served by his books being made into miniseries, like Mr Murder.
The film focuses on a little boy and his mother, a fanatic sect leader (played by Grace Zabriskie) who declares that this boy is the son of Satan and that it is the Last Times. She believes that the child should be destroyed and sets many of her brainwashed servants to do the deed.
The mother and child get the help of a private detective, played by Bruce Greenwood. Jarrett Lennon is the boy, Belinda Bauer his mother. Richard Bradford appears as the founder of the private detective company – and, obviously, will be the brainwashed villain attempting to kill the child. Jack Kehoe is a psychiatrist who helps the private eye. There is a twist at the end.
The film was written and directed by Jeffrey Obrow who has written a number of horror films including The Kindred.
1.The work of Dean R. Koontz? Popularity? Imagination? Horror? Fright? Satanic themes?
2.The small budget, the small running time, the screenplay using the outline of Koontz’s novel? How effective as a horror film?
3.The plausibility of the plot? Grace Spivey as spoken to by God, with her followers, her church, brainwashing her followers? Her mad mission to kill Joey? The various times she accosted mother and son, the phone calls, stalking them? Her disciples, Kyle and her cleansing him, sending him on the mission? With Henry Rankin at the end? The bats destroying her?
4.Her disciples, murderous, brainwashed? Believing Joey to be the son of Satan? The apocalyptic mentality? Kyle, his place as her disciple, his inability to kill Joey? Henry Rankin, his supporting Charlie Harrison, his betraying them, the final turning on Joey and trying to kill him? Charlie fighting with him, his death?
5.Charlie Harrison, the opening, his nightmares, his discussing his case with Doctor Boothe? The commentary throughout? The returning to these interviews? As a person, private eye, the death of his wife? His grief? Coming back to work? Charmed by Christine? By Joey? His working to protect them, the death of the police protecting them? His moving them from place to place? Discussions with Doctor Boothe about Grace Spivey? The photos of the van? The further investigations? His associates and secretaries? With Henry Rankin, trusting him? The hideouts, their being pursued by Grace and her disciples? At the airport? Stranded, his fighting with Henry after receiving the news from his secretary? His injuries? In hospital, discussions with Doctor Boothe? His coming to believe that Joey was the son of Satan? Christine and Joey coming to visit him in hospital, Joey wanting him as his father, his death?
6.Christine and Joey, loving mother and son, the absent father? Grace accosting them? Their fears? The attempts on Joey’s life? Intruders in the house? Going to Charlie, the protection, the death of the police? On the move, the hotels? Charlie and his falling for Christine? The ultimate protection? Joey – son of Satan or not? The ending? Was Christine complicit?
7.The plausibility of the plot – this kind of satanic belief? Religious fanatics? The incarnation of the Devil? How satisfying a variation on the theme?
