MESMERIZED

A young woman (Jodie Foster) marries an older man (John Lithgow) to escape the orphanage in which she lives. She is unhappy with her new husband and attempts to escape his clutches by practising hypnotism on him.

“Technically, pic is first rate, with a fine Georges Delerue score and notable camerawork from Louis Horvath. A scene in which Lithgow’s teeth are pulled out is gruesome, but overall the film, being billed as a horror item, is notably lacking in horror, suspense or tension. It remains frustratingly bland and, ultimately, rather pointless” - (Variety, November 5, 1986)

“Actors Equity will consider direct protest action against the $1.5 million film production Mesmerised for its use of five overseas actors [...] Actors Equity president Mr John McDavitt said many actors were angry that New Zealanders had been deprived of work in those roles. He considers only [Jodie] Foster was famous enough to give the film extra box office attraction overseas [...] ‘The producer (Tony Ginnane) isn’t the slightest bit interested in us - he casted the American actors without even auditioning Kiwis. The company is just ‘using’ New Zealand’” - (“Actors choose direct protest”, Auckland Star, June 21, 1984)

‘Mesmerized’ - AKA ‘My Letter To George’ - had no theatrical release in New Zealand.