SWEPT UNDER

Canada, 2015, 90 minutes, Colour.
Devin Kelley, Aaron Ashmore.
Directed by Michel Poulette.

Swept Under is well worth catching. It is a Canadian film masquerading as an American film with a New York setting. Devin Kelley is quite strong in the central role of the cleaner, expert on crime scenes. Aaron Ashmore, (twin brother of Shawn Ashmore) has a good role as the detective with a keen sense of justice.

The first part of the film looks as if it is a pilot for a series, the detective getting help from the cleaner, her ability to surmise what had happened, the interactions between the two, her becoming something of a part time partner, the repartee in interchanges between the two.

The film switches in the second half with a revelation of who was doing the murders, something of a surprise – and so definitely not a pilot for a television series.

The film raises the issues of male abuse of women, respectable citizens and their covers, the effect on the women used – and their getting revenge.

1. An above-average murder and detection story?

2. A Canadian production, New York setting? Apartments, streets, police precincts, theatre? The musical score? The use of Lully themes for the murders?

3. The title, the ambiguity of the crime scene cleaner, the police not following through clues, the deception in the murders?

4. The introduction to Morgan, with her fat assistant eating, going to work, the reaction of the police, the assistant being sick and leaving the job? Morgan, her ability, cleaning the crime scene? The clash with the detective – and her earlier having a clue for the solution for a murder? Her talking to Nick, the theories about what happened? The flashback glimpses – and the revelation at the end of what had happened?

5. Talking with Nick, offering the second clue, going out with him, the discussions, the attraction? The interactions and the repartee?

6. Morgan going home, alone, the drink, the dating site, communicating, at the bar, discussions, his data entries? To his place, the sexual encounter, leaving early? His later seeing her in the bar with Nick?

7. The second murder, cleaning? Nick and his asking Morgan for advice? At the office, Nick and his giving testimony against corruption, being given the cold shoulder, his partner rivalry, the boss and her criticisms? His talking with Morgan, her becoming an unofficial partner? Her caution about dating working partners? The leaking of information to the press?

8. The gathering of information, the criminal charges about conducting young prostitutes, going to see the perpetrator, giving him a warning, following him to meet the conductor, the confrontation? Morgan and her presence?

9. The switch in information, seeing Morgan with the perpetrator, stabbing his foot, the music, his writing the letter, the name in blood on the step, in the bathroom, her shooting through the door? His bloodied footprints on the floor?

10. Morgan and her continuing to help Nick, her going to the conductor, confronting him, her past, his defiance, hanging? Nick and his finding the body?

11. Morgan and Nick, the relationship, the sexual encounter, the morning after? The effect on Nick?

12. The murdered man’s wife, the surveillance, the revelation of Morgan’s presence?

13. Nick going to her apartment, her cleaning it out, the phone call, hearing the siren, tracking her down getting the petrol? The conversation on the phone, her explanation of her past, family, prostitution, the abduction, the rapes? Seeing the mayor on the television, the decision to do something about it?

14. Nick watching her, her driving away? His previous explanation of justice, black-and-white? His having to bring her in, but his personal feelings?