When a 17 year old girl is murdered in the streets of Montreal, the case is taken on by detective Steve Carella (played by Donald Sutherland).
The only witness to this horrific crime is the girls younger cousin, who was also viciously attacked, but managed to escape with her life.
The cops pick up a number of sex offenders, hoping they will snatch up the culprit in the process.
But they are back to square one, when the girl is unable to identify any of them.
Eventually, she fingers her own brother...saying that he forced them both to perform sexual acts on him, before stabbing her cousin to death, and attempting to kill her.
But he denies it.
From here, the film goes into a series of flashbacks, as the detective goes through the victims diary, in hope of finding a secret that may lead to the identity of the killer.
Turns out that she was having an illicit affair with her cousin- the boy who has been fingered as the murderer.
But she was also being wooed by her boss...who claims he barely knew her.
The fact her cousin turns increasingly jealous and violent, drives her into the arms of her boss, who is married with children.
He encourages her to leave her cousin, and find her own place to live.
Eventually the diary reveals enough information, that the detective is able to put two and two together...and solve the mystery.
This is meant to be a twist, but it's much too predictable.
That aside, it's a pretty engaging film, but the fact that it is so easy to solve, from such an early point detracts a lot from the whodunnit aspect of it all.
The acting from Sutherland and the three kids is pretty good though.
It's construction in two acts, with the first half introducing the players and investigation, and second half portraying the back story- leading up to the conclusion- works on an entertainment level, but leaves you wanting more on the cinematic front.
In the end, it's entertaining enough, but not overly complex.
Which may speak to different people differently, but for me personally...it was just too simplistic.
But it's certainly worth a watch.
6 out of 10.
The only witness to this horrific crime is the girls younger cousin, who was also viciously attacked, but managed to escape with her life.
The cops pick up a number of sex offenders, hoping they will snatch up the culprit in the process.
But they are back to square one, when the girl is unable to identify any of them.
Eventually, she fingers her own brother...saying that he forced them both to perform sexual acts on him, before stabbing her cousin to death, and attempting to kill her.
But he denies it.
From here, the film goes into a series of flashbacks, as the detective goes through the victims diary, in hope of finding a secret that may lead to the identity of the killer.
Turns out that she was having an illicit affair with her cousin- the boy who has been fingered as the murderer.
But she was also being wooed by her boss...who claims he barely knew her.
The fact her cousin turns increasingly jealous and violent, drives her into the arms of her boss, who is married with children.
He encourages her to leave her cousin, and find her own place to live.
Eventually the diary reveals enough information, that the detective is able to put two and two together...and solve the mystery.
This is meant to be a twist, but it's much too predictable.
That aside, it's a pretty engaging film, but the fact that it is so easy to solve, from such an early point detracts a lot from the whodunnit aspect of it all.
The acting from Sutherland and the three kids is pretty good though.
It's construction in two acts, with the first half introducing the players and investigation, and second half portraying the back story- leading up to the conclusion- works on an entertainment level, but leaves you wanting more on the cinematic front.
In the end, it's entertaining enough, but not overly complex.
Which may speak to different people differently, but for me personally...it was just too simplistic.
But it's certainly worth a watch.
6 out of 10.