In a large apartment building, a woman named Anna (Vivienne Graves) is brutally attacked and thrown out of a window, crashing to the ground below. Shortly after Anna is thrown, a mysterious man approaches her body and discovers a strange key in her hand, which he then takes before fleeing. As the police arrive, they find that Anna is still alive and quickly rush her to the hospital.
Also present at the crime scene is Kate (Penny Cook), Anna’s next-door neighbour. Naturally, Kate is deeply devastated by the news of her neighbour’s ordeal and is distraught as she witnesses the apartment swarming with police officers and detectives. Since Kate lives next door to Anna, she is asked to go to the police station for questioning. Kate is cooperative and happy to assist with information, stating that she has no idea who the attacker might be and doesn’t understand why anyone would want to murder Anna. She also reveals that she loves music and leads a quiet lifestyle.
Detective Sergeant Turner (Olivia Hamnett) also invites Dr Steiner (Arna-Maria Winchester) to the station and questions her as she was the last person to see Anna safely, dropping Anna home just moments before the attack. Although neither Kate nor Dr Steiner know who the attacker is, a police sketch artist is brought in to create a composite drawing. When Kate sees the results, she claims that the man depicted resembles her ex-husband, Mike (Patrick Frost). This raises the question: Did Mike try to murder Anna brutally? If so, why? As Kate begins her investigation, she soon realises that a dangerous maniac is still on the loose.
Coda (1987), also known as Deadly Possession and Symphony of Evil, is a horror film with a significant mystery surrounding the identity of the attacker and killer. Due to the numerous killings depicted throughout, it is also categorised as a slasher film and an Ozploitation movie. The film was co-written and directed by Craig Lahiff, also known for his work on other films such as Heaven’s Burning (1997) and Swerve (2012).
For those who may not know, Coda was created for free-to-air television. Having seen the film, I can confirm that its distinctly B-grade quality would have made it a perfect fit for that medium. The film’s opening scene and first act are intense, effectively introducing a tragic and chilling murder attempt along with several prime suspects, each of whom could potentially be the killer. I was excited to see how the story would unfold. Additionally, the original music by Frank Strangio deserves recognition, especially the score during the opening credits, which reminded me of other films, including Carlito’s Way.
Most of the performances in the film are average, but Olivia Hamnett delivers a convincing portrayal as Detective Sergeant Turner, making her character more believable and memorable. I found the key twist about the killer highly predictable. The film reveals this twist too quickly through the filming styles and hints that are too obvious. While the pacing is generally acceptable, the finale feels overly drawn out. This includes a lengthy chase sequence and the showdown that lingers so long that viewers may be eager for the movie to conclude.
Overall, Coda (also known as Deadly Possession and Symphony of Evil) is an acceptable and passable horror-slash-slasher film. It has a strong, engaging opening that piques viewers’ curiosity about how the story unfolds. However, this film was made for free-to-air television, and this is obvious through the quality of its story, performances, and visuals. The plot is highly predictable, particularly regarding the killer’s identity. The pacing is okay, but the showdown drags on and becomes tedious. Additionally, the killer’s motivations for the chaos and mayhem feel lazy and poorly developed. As an Ozploitation film, Coda is okay but lacks groundbreaking or memorable elements.
Coda (1987) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Umbrella Entertainment!
FILM SCORE: 5.3/10
Published: 4th December 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
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