MESSAGES

UK, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Fahey, Kim Thomson, Jon- Paul Gates, Martin Kove, Bruce Payne.
Directed by David Fairman.

This is the kind of paperback murder mystery that is either an easy night out or an easy night home watching it on TV or DVD. It is something of a routine murder mystery with a serial killer plus some strange messages from the beyond and some ghosts who appear in nightmares and finally appear to wreak vengeance on their killer.

There are not too many candidates for the killer. The screenplay successfully steered me away from identifying the guilty party.

Jeff Fahey has appeared in numerous B-budget thrillers and action shows. A bit older now, he is an American living in England and working in the hospital mortuary as the local pathologist. His wife is killed in a car crash and he goes to pieces. Months later – and he little better – a serial killer is on the loose.

A hot shot author detective is sent to England (Martin Kove) on an exchange in charge of the investigation. He is enough to put anyone off the swaggering cowboy type. The British are represented by the psychologist profiling the killer (Kim Thomson) and the local medical officer (Bruce Payne).

More than a touch melodramatic, this is glossily made standard fare.

1.A popular thriller? Murder mystery? Ordinary ingredients? The touch of the supernatural? Ghosts?

2.The English setting, the countryside, homes, police precincts, hospitals? The highways? The country roads? The musical score?

3.The opening credits, the dolls? The messages – on Richard’s computer, the steam on the mirror? The ghosts, the communications? His dreams? The irony of the message in Father Randall’s mind?

4.The background of the murders, the serial killer, the mutilations, the eyes? The police examinations? The autopsies? The forensic science? The psychological profile of the killer? Audience interest in serial killer stories?

5.The opening, Carol and her anxiety, being pursued in the car, the crash, her death? The effect on Richard? The passing of the eight months? His grief, dysfunctional? His drinking? Not efficient at his work? The support and sympathy of Father Randall? The people in the office? Doctor Golding and his more cynical approach? The background of Richard’s relationships, infidelities? The flashbacks to scenes with Carol, the necklace, her being upset, her anger?

6.Doctor Golding, suspect? His work, cynicism? The interactions with DCI Collins? The British versus the American?

7.DCI Collins, the Los Angeles cowboy, his tone, his attitude towards the British? His books, his vanity? His conferences, like a schoolmaster? The interaction with Frances? His spurning of her? His attitude towards Richard, wanting to pin him down, the interrogation, wanting to arrest him?

8.Frances, her coming to the station, the psychological profile of the killer? Meeting Richard? Their past? Meetings, drinks together, discussions? Her concern about him?

9.Richard and his friends, the party, meeting Denise, her taking him home, his flashbacks, blacking out? Her later trying to check his aura? Massage?

10.The victims, Mary, her house, Richard going to the house, having to escape? Julie at the supermarket? Rachel working at the hospital?

11.Richard, his assistant, young and callous?

12.Richard and his blackouts, the messages? His dreams, re-enacting the murders, Carol’s coming to him, the blood? All the women coming to him?

13.Father Randall, looking after his mother? Richard seeing the necklace? The confrontation with Father Randall, his madness, explanation of what he did, God speaking to him, the messages? His violence towards Richard? Abducting Frances, tying her up? Richard and his using his ingenuity to get Frances free? The fight with Randall? In the car, driving, the sudden braking and Randall going through the windscreen? On the road, the glass in his eye, his threatening Richard? The ghosts all appearing? Wreaking their vengeance on him?

14.Carol, her appearance to Richard, smiling? Richard and his going on holiday with Frances? A future?

15.The popular ingredients of this kind of paperback murder mystery?