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user\nDoe-eyed high school student Kathleen Beller is found beaten and
raped in the opening scenes of this made for TV movie. The film
then flashbacks to the few days before the rape, as Beller is
harassed by a stranger.
Beller and Scott Colomby and her best friend Robin Mattson and
Dennis Quaid are double dating early on. Beller's anxious parents,
laid back Tony Bill and shrill Blythe Danner, wait at home wringing
hands and so on. Right away, the 1970's makes its dated
entrance, as the young couples discuss the romance and love in
\"Three Days of the Condor.\"
Beller, an amateur photographer, begins getting threatening notes
stuffed in her locker at school. The film makers wisely give us a
whole slew of suspects: Beller's new boyfriend, Mattson's
boyfriend, Beller's dad, Beller's ex-boyfriend, and what about that
overly friendly photography class teacher who wants Beller to be a
little more sexy in her self-portraits? I knew who the rapist was
because the Worldvision Video company video box has a picture of
the attack on the back cover, destroying any suspense in that
regard.
Without giving away who the attacker is, Beller begins getting
harassing phone calls, and is eventually raped. The movie then
heads south as she makes like Nancy Drew and secretly sets up
a time lapse camera to catch the guy stalking another student.
Finally, the film makers tack on a hokey ending narration from
Beller about the lack of understanding for the victims of rape in that
day and age.
The suspense here is very real, without going over the top into
scary movie stuff. Beller is very good, and watch for her and
Mattson's scene in an abandoned theater- both do great jobs. The
film is full of familiar faces, including Ellen Travolta in a small role,
and everyone is professional.
This was made in 1978, and it shows. I am sure no one had any
idea that this would be reviewed in 2001 by an overcritical horror
movie lover who needs to get to bed and be up early in the
morning, but some of the attitudes here are embarassing. The
teacher who tells Beller to be sexy is never made to explain what
exactly he had in mind. Nowadays, if any high school teacher said
that, then THAT would have been a made for TV movie on its own.
After Beller is raped, the rapist is still a part of her life, as warrants
are issued, blah, blah, blah. There may not be a case because
Beller is not a virgin, and cannot prove she was raped by whom
she said. Many of these problems have been addressed with
modern technology and policing efforts, but this film obviously
knew it would have a chance to add to the reform debate. Rape is
an act of violence that has not gone away, but efforts today to catch
the attackers are miles ahead of twenty four years ago. The
problem is the anti-rape angle feels tacked on, like an
afterthought. Before that, we have a tight little suspenser that has
real honest to God characterization. After the rape, everything
changes, filmwise, and not for the better.
I remember Beller from the '70's and '80's (and who could forget
her revealing role in \"The Betsy\"), but she has not done anything in
almost ten years. This is a shame, since she was very good way
back then.
I will recommend \"Are You in the House Alone?!\" based on the
acting alone, with a reluctant nod to at least the first two-thirds of
the film. If you want to relive 1970's made for TV high school life,
this is your cup of Tab.
This is unrated but contains physical violence, some sexual
violence, and some adult situations.
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