NIGHTMARE IN THE DAYLIGHT
US, 1992, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jaclyn Smith, Christopher Reeve, Tom Mason, Glynnis O’ Connor, Christina Pickles, Eric Bell.
Directed by Lou Antonio.
Nightmare in the Daylight is a star vehicle for Jaclyn Smith. She portrays a woman with a secret. She has kept the secret from her husband, and a chance encounter with her former husband, who believes her dead in an earthquake, triggers a crisis. Christopher Reeve is the brutal ex-husband, playing against type rather effectively. Tom Mason is the husband, sympathetic and, interestingly, portraying a former priest (as Brian Dennehy did in the Jack Reed series). There is some discussion in the screenplay about priests who leave and get married – and a visit to a priest friend to ask for advice.
The situation seems rather implausible. However, it shows the story of a desperate woman who conceals her identity and creates a new one to escape her former husband. She even has to deceive her father – who, in the climax, supports his daughter. The truth about the matter is not revealed almost towards the end – which means that Jaclyn Smith gives a convincing performance as someone who is denying what actually had happened. An entertaining drama thriller.
1.The plausibility of the plot? The brutal marriage, the decision of Megan to pretend to be dead, a new life, cutting off ties with everyone in the old life?
2.The San Francisco settings, the hotel, the city, the convention? The contrast with the home in Wisconsin? Ordinary America? The musical score?
3.The title, as experience by Megan, Sean as a character from a nightmare?
4.The portrait of Megan, Jaclyn Smith and her television reputation, middle age, married to Peter, her son? Arriving for the convention, a happy family, enjoying the city? The domestic touches? The encounter with Sean, her denials? His following her, her handling of the situation, the violence, being stalked in the street, the authorities in the hotel? Her finally being abducted? Her refusal to tell the truth? Meeting Sloan, Sloan keeping her secret? Sean taking her to her father, her father keeping the secret? At school, her husband being the principal, the harassment? Concern about her son? The final confrontation with Sean, the violent ending? Her father coming to see her, the happy future?
5.Christopher Reeve as Sean, the background of his brutality, his relationship with Sloan, her condemnation of his attitudes? His chance meeting with Megan, the pursuit, the phone calls, stalking? Paying off waiters? The confrontations, his promising that he had changed, his continued brutality and outbursts? Violence towards Sloan? The encounter with Peter, their fighting? With the boy? The authorities and his being warned? His pursuing Megan to Wisconsin, stalking, the final confrontation and the violent death?
6.Peter, former priest, the reasons for his leaving, love for Megan, his son, at the convention, the chance encounters with Sean, the fight? The authorities? Their not being able to do much? Meeting with Sean’s bosses? The return, his asking Megan about the truth, her being unable to tell him? His supporting her – and the happy ending? The young boy, under threat from Sean, love for his parents?
7.Sloan, her friendship with Megan, supporting Sean, wanting to control him? Her not giving Megan away?
8.Sean, the convention, preparation for the presentation, his being distracted, his pursuit of Megan, lying to his bosses? Their reactions, the meeting with Peter?
9.A telemovie for entertainment, interest, plot, an insight into a dysfunctional marriage and its aftermath, a well-functioning marriage?
