DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS

US, 1994, 92 minutes, Colour.
Pierce Brosnan, Shanna Reed, Terry O’ Quinn, Keegan Mac Intosh.
Directed by Robert Michael Lewis.

Don’t Talk to Strangers is a standard television movie – however, it has an interesting twist at the end, warning people not to judge others by appearances only.

The film focuses on an unhappy divorce, the wife played by Shanna Reed, wanting sole custody of her son, her alcoholic detective husband wanting shared custody. He is an angry embittered man.

Into the wife’s life comes a stranger played by Pierce Brosnan (just before his first James Bond film). He is all charm, supportive and a father figure to the young boy. They decide to move interstate – the detective angrily following.

Everything turns around when it emerges that Pierce Brosnan is in fact the father of the boy, that he was adopted when the mother’s child died at birth. The detective took the child and made arrangements for adoption but did not tell his wife.

It then emerges that Brosnan is a criminal, intent on getting the child and selling it to his grandfather, and getting rid of the parents. Naturally, this builds up quite some tension.

The film is director by Robert Michael Lewis, who directed many television movies over the 70s to the 90s.

1.An entertaining television movie? Thriller? Family themes? Terror?

2.The domestic settings, homes, gymnasiums, police precincts? Authentic? The contrast with the travel on the road, the motels? The Colorado town and the attitude of the police? Musical score?

3.The title, almost a cliché? As applying to Jane – and the consequences?

4.The portrait of Jane, the divorce, wanting sole custody, her love for her son, her husband’s anger in the court? Her work, meeting Patrick Brody, going out with him, falling in love with him? The marriage? Having to deal with Bonner and his outbursts, seeming to stalk them? The decision to move interstate, not telling Bonner?

5.The journey, the pursuing cars, the fears? Being run off the road? The audience assuming that it was Bonner? Later discovering that it was a group of thugs employed by the grandfather? The toilet sequence and the anonymous person talking with Eric? Seeing the same shoes in the motel? The audience becoming aware of the complications?

6.The character of Bonner, his drinking, alienation from his wife? Anger, the divorce proceedings, custody? His turning up at the house, his antagonism towards Patrick? Trying to find something on him? The pursuit? His anger at their leaving? His finding out the truth?

7.Eric, young boy, love for his mother, trying to cope with his father? Wary of Patrick, Patrick winning him over?

8.Patrick, Pierce Brosnan’s charm, at the health centre, taking Jane out, the relationship? Engagement? The marriage? His proposing that they move interstate? Jane going by car, his planning to join later? The phone calls, the flights, the weather? His eventual arrival?

9.Patrick and his helping Jane, the confrontations with Bonner? His consoling Jane, the docket in his pocket – and her realisation that something was wrong?

10.The dramatic climax, the thugs and their deaths? The role of the grandfather, millionaire, wanting his grandson? His henchmen and the control of the thugs? Patrick, his plan, his double-dealing, the rooms? The violence, the shooting? His taking the boy, hiding him in his room? Travelling in the car, pulling up – and the possibility of his killing Jane? Bonner and his arrival, the shootout? Patrick’s death? His revelation of the truth about himself?

11.Satisfying popular ingredients for this kind of thriller? Performances – giving some depth to the characters and issues?