A teenager is sitting in on a bench at the start of That Cold Day in the Park, Frances Austin, a young, wealthy spinster, sees the teenager sitting on the park bench and goes out to ask him into her apartment.

Despite her best efforts, their lack of communication only starts to increase her sense of loneliness, as her possessiveness spirals into frightening new realms.

After inviting the 19-year-old boy in and giving him a place to stay, she locks him in the bedroom, n the morning she brings his breakfast in bed, then tells him she is leaving to do some shopping, all very bizarre. You certainly feel that something just isn’t right.

That Cold Day in the Park is a rather strange film, Frances (played by Sandy Dennis) seems to be a journey through her loneliness and into madness. Dennis plays her part very well as she moves through the changes in her character.

As the film progresses, The Boy (played by Michael Burns), is imprisoned by Frances, but she gives him his every need, even to the point of her going out and finding a prostitute (played by Luana Anders) for him.

The relationship that Frances thinks she has with The Boy goes from a doting mother, considering him as a boyfriend and going as far as having a contraceptive coil fitted after pretending she is getting married. It all goes to show what loneliness can do to someone and how it can change them.

But that moment when she snaps after discovering toys under the blanket and that The Boy has sneaked out of the apartment is when the proverbial has hit the fan!

The film has that Robert Altman look and feel to it with his style of directing which we would see more of in MASH in 1970.

That Cold Day in the Park isn’t a film that everyone will enjoy, it is a film with a difference, but for fans of Robert Altman, then this is one which they are going to want to check out.

Special Features for That Cold Day in the Park:

· New high-definition master

· Uncompressed audio on the Blu-ray

· New video interview with critic and filmmaker David Thompson, editor of Altman on Altman

· English subtitles for the deaf and hearing-impaired

· PLUS: A booklet featuring new writing and archival images

That Cold Day in the Park Trailer

Eureka’s Masters of Cinema Dual Format release of THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK to be released on 20 June 2016.

Karen Woodham

Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.

blazingminds.co.uk