MovieChat Forums > Dead of Winter (1987) Discussion > Confusion about the beginning (Spoilers)

Confusion about the beginning (Spoilers)

posted 8 years ago by t_andrew
2 replies | jump to latest

So, we know that Evelyn is the rich sister who has been blackmailed by Julie. Evelyn had Julie killed to put an end to it all. In the opening scene we see this murder take place, with the finger cutting and all that. BUT, why does Julie have the money already and who is she waiting for? She says in the phone 'If he's not here in 5 minutes I'm leaving'. It almost seems like that's Evelyn in the opening scene, talks like her too. Is that Julie of Evelyn?

[–] gluserty (626) 7 years ago

No, that isn't the character at all; there is no relation. Now, the original film, 1945's "My Name is Julie Ross" had that connection. This film here has Mary Steenburgen play all three roles, which I thought she did well!

[–] jevicci (163) 7 years ago

It was the doctor who was blackmailing Evelyn. Remember, her sister Julie confided Evelyn's crime to the doctor during her therapy. It was the doctor who then decided to blackmail Evelyn. Mr. Murray was supposed to pick up the hush money for the doctor (that's who Julie was waiting for), but Evelyn's killer got to her first. When Mr. Murray arrived, Julie was dead and took her body back to the doctor. At that point, they started scheming to trick Evelyn into thinking Julie was still alive, and thus, get the money. What I don't understand is why Julie was the one delivering the hush money. Obviously, that's necessary for the plot, but I don't see a logical reason for it otherwise.