Mikes Film Talk

2015’s Dementia is a home care thriller that cuts pretty close to the bone. It has a lot of twists and turns. it also has a twist in the tale.

Written by Meredith Berg and directed by Mike Testin Dementia is  a thriller. It is about Vietnam war hero George Lockhart (Gene Jones). He is felled by a stroke and now requires home care. Nurse Michelle (Kristina Klebe)  is hired by his son and granddaughter. She is meant to look after the veteran. George has also been diagnosed with the onset of dementia. Nurse Michelle, it seems, turns out to have a hidden agenda. 

The Story

Dementia starts with Lockhart chasing off two bullies with a rifle. It is while giving the potential victim advice, George has his stroke.  George may be a war hero. He is, however a tortured individual. Lockhart has a secret or two of his own. One of these comes back to haunt him.

Lockhart brought home injuries after being tortured in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp. Like many others with PTSD George had an alcohol problem was was prone to violence. His son dislikes his father. He is happy to leave with a stranger.  George’s granddaughter Shelby (Hassie Harrison) is concerned about Michelle. She feels something is not right about the nurse. 

Michelle mistreats George when his family are not around. The nurse also gives him medication that is not his   Lockhart tries to fight back. However, Michelle is in charge and she isolates him from everyone.  Shelby starts investigating the nurse and her fears intensify.

Horror/Thriller

The film is classified as a horror thriller.  While the plot may not be overly complex, we figure out early on that there is something wrong with Michelle, it is not until later that it becomes clear that this is personal with the nurse. This is not a random event;  Michelle has picked George for a reason.

Dementia has gotten a fairly  low rating on IMDb. However Rotten Tomatoes has given the film pretty positive feedback.  Overall, this is a great low budget horror/thriller with a story that is compelling. The message  being that forced death, at any age, changes people in deep and disturbing ways.

George Lockhart emerged from his experiences in the Vietnam War as a bit of a monster, racked by flashbacks, rage and murderous intent.  The decorated veteran is not a nice man but he was changed by the war and his treatment by the enemy inflected long lasting damage.

History

Klebe’s character was also formed by her history and chillingly, we learn that she has been searching a long time for George.

Perhaps the only real problem, apart from the fact that dementia is a disturbing disease that many have had personal connections with, is that none of the characters are overly  likable.  Certainly George starts off that way, but all too soon, his dementia and his son’s feelings about Lockhart change how the audience view him.

Thoughts

Jones, whom I’d only ever seen in No Country for Old Men (as the petrol station owner who bets his life on a quarter),  gives a brilliant performance here. He causes us to pity him one moment and then fear him the next.   His reveal, caused by Michelle’s carefully cruel orchestrations,  ultimately destroys any empathy we have for his character.

Klebe gives great “nut-job” as she gets further into her job as punisher.  Initially the actress plays the professional card beautifully to two relatives who never bother to check her credentials. Once Klebe’s character is in control, she starts very slowly to unravel the cloak of normalcy and reveals the madness underneath.  Kristina is scary in the film and may keep many from ever considering live-in care for a loved one.

Harrison, as Shelby, does well but, once again, her character is not overly likable either. A granddaughter who steals George’s medication does not endear the audience to her cause.  She also lies about the necklace, which she thought was her grandmother’s, and one gets the feeling that she may only be trying to get on with George for gain and not any real sense of family.

Message

The real message here is the realization that our lives are shaped by experiences. Tragedy (murder) manifests itself in horrible ways.  It can also be said that in this film, as in real life, heroes are not always nice people. And that war is a gift that keeps on giving.

The Verdict

Dementia is a 3.5 star film that is available on the internet, and via DVD and Blu-Ray,  from May 17.  This is  a cracking little movie that, if  you pay attention, will entertain you and make you think.  Catch this one if you can.

Dementia can be streamed on AMC+, Plex and IFC+.

The trailer