THICKER THAN WATER

Canada, 2019, 90 minutes, Colour.
Andrea Roth, Katie Douglas, Eric Osborne, Tygh Runyon, Jason Smiley.
Directed by Caroline Labreche.

This is a thriller of menace.

Parents are grieving the death of their son, a college student. The mother is particularly upset and cannot go back to her ordinary life, back to work. Her husband and daughter try their best to help her. There is a suggestion that they should take in a paying boarder. A good idea in theory but, for this drama, their choice is deadly. They accept a charming psychopath who infiltrates the family, especially in his effect on the mother. Ultimately, of course, some menace, some violence

1. Thicker than blood? Relationships? Alternate title of “The Twisted�?

2. The familiar setting, the city, the house, the campus, workplaces, the countryside? Musical score?

3. The family situation, the drug death of the son, the mother’s grief, the father and his having to cope, the daughter and her memories? The situation at home, the mother not wanting to do anything, not going back to work, the father and his trying to do the best, the daughter and her studies?

4. The financial situation, having to take in border, renting the room?

5. The introduction to Brandon, the details of his story and background, coming to study, the encounter with fellow students? The notice about renting the room? His presenting himself well? Paige and her changing her mind, welcoming him? His saying all the right things? His room, the memories of the dead son? His ingratiating himself, courtesy, helping, meals…?

6. The change in Paige, coming to life, her previous refusal to go out, her daughter’s games, clashes with people at work? Her focus on Brandon? Their time together?

7. The daughter, suspicions, investigating, building up to confrontation? The father and his dealing with the situation?

8. The transition to violence, threats, danger to page? The buildup to the final confrontations and rescue?

9. The portrait of a sociopath?