“FOOTSTEPS”

US, 2003, 90 minutes, Colour
Candice Bergen, Bryan Brown, Bug Hall, Michael Murphy.
Directed by John Badham.

“Footsteps” is an adaptation of a play by Ira Levin (Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, Boys from Brazil, Death Trap). The film is in the vein of Death Trap – though a much more straightforward thriller, not always predictable but with the twists not always unexpected.

Candice Bergen portrays a popular crime novelist whose film is premiered in the local town, returning home she is terrorised by two men, one an obsessed fan, the other an assassin hired by her husband. The film builds up its momentum, especially with the final twists and confrontations. Bryan Brown (not changing his accent but given some Australian explanation for his presence in the US) is the assassin. Michael Murphy in the husband. Bug Hall (who is a lively young man and deserves a better name for the screen) is the fan.

The film is quite clearly based on a play. After the initial opening with the premiere and the Q&A after it, the film is confined to the novelist’s home and is generally a three-hander. It is directed by John Badham who had a film career in the 70s and 80s with such films as Saturday Night Fever and Dracula and then moved to action films including Bird on a Wire, The Hard Way, Drop Zone.

1.The work of Ira Levin? Death Trap and the crime thriller? The adaptation of a play for the television screen?

2.The Massachusetts settings, the mansion, the theatre, the house and its environment, the sea? The action of the film confined to one evening? Musical score? Editing and pace for thrills?

3.Audience expectations, popular crime thrillers, the author and the games being played, her reliance on techniques and action from her thrillers? The turning of the tables, the triumph of good over evil?

4.The opening, the premiere, the far-fetched action style, the applause of the audience, the questions and answers – and the menacing fan who blamed her for an imitation killing in real life? The irony of his reappearing in the mansion at the end – Daisy’s future?

5.Daisy, her age, the successful novels, seeing the titles? Her being on the balcony of her home, on stage, her nervousness, answers, her being upset at the obsessed man? Breathing, returning home?

6.Her relationship with her husband, the phone calls, his concern? The irony that he had hired the killer? The signals, the phone calls? His bringing a witness to her suicide – and the irony of Daisy using the phone, the battery, the judge hearing the whole scenario? The husband and his motivation, looking after her, urging her to write when she didn't want to, his financial gains because of her? His hiring the killer? The confrontation with Daisy, her pulling the trigger – and his confession and her indicating she had no bullet?

7.Daisy arriving home, the nervousness, the dog absent, the lights? The encounter with Spencer, his knowing all about her, his being a fan, his explanation of his life and work? His being a danger to her, her believing him? The arrival of the police, the confrontation with Spencer? His being tied up by the killer, cutting loose, entering the house, trying to save the day, not believing the stories? His turning out the lights, later turning them back on? His heroism – his admiration for Daisy, her final praise of him and his action at the end?

8.The killer, pretending to be a policeman, finding out the truth? Playing games with her novels? His having the upper hand, the gun, detecting the tablets in the whisky? Her escape, her going to the shed, the gun absent, her diving into the water? His getting her again? The confrontation, her tying him up? His explanation of the truth – and his telling the truth? His motivation (and coming from Australia to marry)? His motivation yet not wanting to necessarily hurt her?

9.The final explanations, the killer being an observer, the arrest of the husband, the action of the judge? The arrest of the killer? Daisy and her having strength to face the future?

10.Popular ingredients of the Wait Until Dark… kind of woman in peril thriller? The strength of the woman in peril?