KILLERS IN THE HOUSE

US, 1998, 90 minutes, Colour.
Mario van Peebles, Holly Robinson Peete, Michael J. Pagan, Hal Linden, Andrew Divoff, Laurie Triolo.
Directed by Michael Schultz.

Killers in the House is a good thriller. It has a familiar story but is treated very well. This may be due to the writer Ehren Kruger who was to go on to write a number of very successful thrillers during the first decade of the 21st century including adaptations of the Ring films and the Brothers Grimm. The film was directed by veteran Michael Schultz, director of a number of popular films of the 70s and 80s including Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Carbon Copy.

Mario van Peebles, a celebrated director himself, is the heroic father. Holly Robinson Peete is his strong-minded wife while Michael J. Pagan is their resourceful son. The film also includes Hal Linden in the cast as a lawyer and there is a rather menacing performance by Andrew Divoff as the head of a group of bank employees who ruthlessly rob a bank and take refuge in the house which has just become the property of the family. Laurie Triolo is menacing as a ruthless bank clerk-turned robber.

The film is set in north-western California, is set in a huge mansion during a thunderstorm where the thieves take refuge and menace the family who have just moved in. Nothing new, but plausible and entertainingly done.

1.The popularity of this kind of thriller? Audiences identifying with the characters, the situations? Relief that they have never been in this kind of situation? Making comparisons with what might be done?

2.The title, its bluntness, indicating themes, the focus on the criminals, on the house and the family in the house?

3.The family from Los Angeles, the contrast with the countryside of the Californian north? The town, the mansion itself, exteriors and interiors? The atmospheric score?

4.The setting up of the Sawyer family, mother and father, their love for each other, their love for their son, Malik? Getting going on the trip, difficulties with the car, arriving in the town? The information given about their journey, Rodney and his inheriting a house, his never knowing his father?

5.Arthur Pendleton, genial lawyer, the information about the house, the information about Rodney’s father? The inheritance? His father wanting to do something for his son, continually remodelling and developing the mansion?

6.The family going to the house, the meeting with Billy and his worry about being sacked? Looking over the house, deciding to stay the night? The thunderstorm? Arthur and his concern, his return, Rodney giving him enough evidence that there was trouble, his coming back into the house, shooting, his being shot?

7.The insertion of the bank sequences, the staff at the bank, the end of the day, the sudden robbery, the bank clerks turning robbers? The attempt at a getaway, the shoot-out, Kendall being shot? The drive, the storm, the planes being grounded, their knowing about the house, taking over?

8.The confrontation between the criminals and the family? Rodney using his wits, being overpowered? Jenny using her wits, pretending to be a nurse and tending Kendall, Malik and his unwittingly giving away the information? His hiding, with the money, burning it?

9.The cat-and-mouse activities in the house, the family and their continued devices for escaping, barricading themselves in rooms, Rodney getting out the window, the unbolting of the chandelier?

10.The criminals: Kendall and her ruthlessness, wanting the money, her dying? Breckett and his work, infatuation by Kendall, becoming ruthless, the leader? Madness, taking possession of the house, wanting his money, his reactions to Kendall’s wounding, her death, going out into the grounds with her body? The other two criminals, career criminals, black and white? With the guns, menacing, searching?

11.Billy, his return, the fact that he was Kendall’s brother? His taking sides with the family? The attack, Jenny and her escape, her unfastening the bolts of the chandelier and it crushing the criminals? The final confrontation?

12.The devices used for suspense, hiding and chasing, menacing, weapons and lack of weapons, the using of wits?

13.The aftermath, the house, Billy and Rodney and their building it? The guest house? A happy future?