QUICKSAND: NO ESCAPE
US, 1992, 85 minutes, Colour.
Donald Sutherland, Tim Matheson, Felicity Huffmann.
Directed by Michael Pressman.
Quicksand: No Escape is a conventional telemovie but done with some style. Tim Matheson is a harassed architect whose partner has bribed city officials to get a contract, unbeknownst to him. He then encounters a corrupt policeman who wants to blackmail him. They struggle and the policeman is killed. However, there is a sinister presence, Donald Sutherland at his most smiling and evil, who shoots the policeman and attempts to blackmail Matheson.
The film focuses on the bewilderment of the architect, his trying to do the right thing, his being trapped in the blackmail, not wanting his family harmed. Sutherland, on the other hand, revels in the power he holds over the young man – wanting him eventually to be like him, even to killing a rival.
There is the expected suspense as the police close in and Matheson has to deceive them to survive. There is a violent ending – which is satisfying insofar as the villain is got rid of – but the final words of the film show the ambiguity and the sense of guilt that the architect will continue to have.
1. Interesting television drama? Values, conflict of values? Violence?
2. The Los Angeles settings, the fashionable home, the office? The venues for the meetings between Scott and Murdoch, their range? Mulholland Drive and the scene for the death? The musical score?
3. The title, indication of themes?
4. The portrait of Scott: skilled, neglecting his family because of his work, his wife’s fears and setting a private detective on him? The presentation to the executives and success? The discovery that his partner had bribed the officials? His moral dilemma? The encounter with Towers, the fight, the discovery that he had been shot? His denials to the police? His continuing to work, his relationship with his wife, tensions? The children? The encounter with Murdoch? The discussion, the pressure on him, the first $25,000? The continued meetings, his explaining his situation? Learning more about Murdoch? His nerves, not presenting well, the clashes with his partner, eventually leaving? Murdoch’s plan that he stalk the Mafia man? His doing it, his being pressurised to kill him? The motivations, being free from Murdoch? Murdoch and his leaving the watch in the house, picking up the son from school? His discovery of his wife’s file, their talking things over, his putting things in Murdoch’s house? Going to the Mob man, the possibilities – and the Mob man killing Murdoch? His wife saying they would be free – and his saying they would never be free? The plausibility of this kind of situation, character?
5. Murdoch, seeing him following Scott? The proposal, his smiling, sinister? His knowing all about Scott? The proposal, the money, the pressure? His power over him, relishing it? His explanation of himself, vice squad for twenty years, meeting corrupt people and they being friends? His continued pressure, getting Scott to stalk the man? The proposal of murder? In the house? The scene with Joanna and the explanation of his knowledge of Scott? The final plan, going to Las Vegas, making sure he was seen, the jackpot – and his being shot? His final words about always losing?
6. Joanna, her love for her husband, fears, the detective, the meeting with him, discovering he was only having an affair with his work? Her going to the office seductively? Her wanting to be supportive, to be friends? The discovery of the truth, her final comment?
7. Towers, corrupt, putting the pressure on Scott? The other police, their investigations, questions, searching the house, trying to scare Scott? The clash with the commissioner?
8. The world of business, contracts and bribes? Personal integrity – possible or not?
9. The murder, Scott’s response, lying – better to tell the truth and take the consequences or these consequences? The final solution – and his not feeling free?
