MISTER FROST

France/UK, 1990, 104 minutes.
Jeff Goldblum, Alan Bates, Kathy Baker, Daniel Gelin, Jean- Pierre Cassel.
Directed by Philippe Setbon.

Mister Frost is a British French co-production. It is fable, a story of a satanic figure, in fact, the devil incarnate. He takes the form of serial killer, Jeff Goldblum. (Goldblum had an opportunity the next year to portray a Christ figure in The Favour, The Watch and the Very Big Fish, as a melancholic artist who is taken up as the model for photographs for a life of Jesus.)

Alan Bates is the police inspector whose life is changed by his encounter with Mr. Frost. Kathy Baker is the very rationalistic, scientific psychologist who confronts Mister Frost, thinking she can help - but in fact, is destroyed by him. The film has a strong supporting cast including French veterans Daniel Gelin as a sculptor friend of Alan Bates and Jean Pierre Cassell as the police inspector. The film is a wry comedy with serious undertones of the evil of the serial killer, the calm and conscienceless Mister Frost, the psychological games and encounters, the destructive powers of the satin figure in the world today.

1. Interesting thriller, psychological thriller? Story of the demonic?

2. British French co-production, the English settings, the vague European settings? The world of the institution? The musical score?

3. The title and the choice of Mister Frost for a devil symbol?

4. The opening, the thieves, Mister Frost's car, discovering the corpse? Mister Frost and his calm, his kitchen? His interview with Inspector Detweiller? The polite talk, the kitchen, the banter? The discovery of the bodies? The effect on Inspector Detweiller, talking with Mister Frost, the matter of fact presentation of the truth? The arrest, the digging up of more bodies? Mister Frost and in prison? In the court? The Inspector's reactions? Audiences identifying with Mister Frost or with the Inspector?

5. The transition to the institution? The inspector with Mister Frost? The arrival, Frost not speaking for years? Dr. Reinhardt and his ethos of the institution? The staff? Sarah and the challenge? The people in the institution, patience and staff, style?

6. Mister Frost and his being quiet, the years of non-speaking? The sudden talking to Sarah? Discussions about cooking etc.,? The bond between them? Exerting h is own fascination and power? The physic with Christopher leading to the murders? The inspector and his fear of Mister Frost, dreams and hallucinations? His testing Sarah, their discussions, wanting her to shoot him? Reinhardt taking over and Frost's displeasure, Reinhardt and his wanting to jump from the roof? Sarah's plea? The confrontation with Frost and Reinhardt? Sarah and his control, his death, his taking possession of her? Satan transferred into the world? Their discussions about religion, science, rationalism and scepticism? Breaking through scientific norms?

7. Detweiller and his investigations, his British style, conversations with Frost, his disgust, the arrest and the bodies, the court? The story of his wife and her death? The dreams and appearances later? His retiring? His friendship with Simon? The quest for Frost? The encounters with Sarah, seeking her out, the contact, the relationship, falling in love? Learning about Frost? Explaining his experiences? Christopher and the murders? The gun? The climax and his grief at Sarah's destruction?

8. Sarah, the competent psychologist, devoted to her work? With Reinhardt, with the staff? With Mister Frost, his talking to her, her response, keeping in contact, the visits, the fascination, learning from him? Her brother and his inability to walk? His later walking? Meeting Detweiller, talking with him, the fascination, falling in love? Reinhardt and his threatening to jump? Her reactions to Frost, the critic of her scepticism and rationalism? Her fears, her decision, her shooting of Frost, becoming possessed? The blend of the scientific and the mystic?

9. The police inspector, his attitudes towards Frost, searching, the murders committed by Christopher and his intervention?

10. Christopher and his being in the asylum, his reaction to his father, the escape, confronting and killing him, going to the church and the death of the priest, the death of the Rabbi? His pursuit, his being killed by the truck?

11. Oliver, Sarah's brother, crippled, the experience of strength, walking?

12. Simon and his sculptor work, friendship with Detweiller, his attitude towards Sarah, his observing what was going on?

13. Life in the institution, the staff and their interactions, the psychological staff, the domestic staff?

1.The plausibility of this kind of fable - and the incarnation of Satan and his unleashing of evil in the world.